New Zealand beat arch-rivals Australia in Rugby World Cup final

Twickenham New Zealand made sporting history at Twickenham as they became the first team to be crowned Rugby World Cup winners for a second successive timeNew Zealands flanker and captain Richie McCaw C holds the Webb Ellis Cup as he celebrates with teammates after winning the final match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham stadium south west London PicAFPTries in each half by wing Nehe MilnerSkudder and centre Maa Nonu followed by a late Beauden Barrett breakaway score plus 19 points from All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter including an important late dropgoal in his 112th and final Test before joining French club Racing 92 saw New Zealand home 3417It extended their record World Cup winning run to 14 Tests and means the Webb Ellis Cup will remain New Zealands property as they claimed a third world crown since the competition began 28 years agoBut they were briefly given a secondhalf scare as Australia threatened a remarkable fightback from 18 points adrift after 42 minutes as number eight David Pocock and centre Tevita Kuridrani scored tries with flyhalf Bernard Foley converting both touchdowns that followed an earlier penaltyIt proved to be a pulsating final brilliantly refereed by Welshman Nigel Owens but New Zealand had enough in the tank to guarantee a winning farewell to Test rugby for the likes of Carter Nonu Conrad Smith and probably 148 timescapped Captain Marvel Richie McCawThe tournaments best two teams played out a thrilling spectacle with Australia often giving as good as they got but New Zealand ultimately possessed a mastery of the key moments as they dug deep into rich resources of experience to see them homeNew Zealand dominated the early exchanges with Nonu proving a particular threat and it was no surprise when Carter booted the All Blacks into a seventhminute lead through an angled penaltyWhile Carters accuracy was never in doubt there were more concerns surrounding All Blacks number eight Kieran Read who required treatment for a foot injury before appearing to run things off in backplay and being able to continueIt was Australia who suffered the the first major injury blow albeit after Foley had tied things up with a penalty when lock Kane Douglas limped off following prolonged treatment and he was replaced by former Exeter captain Dean MummNew Zealand continued to dominate in terms of territory but their attacking plays were met by immense Australian defence as each player hit the opposite number ferociouslyCarter restored New Zealands advantage through a 26thminute penalty with Australia forced to regroup after centre Matt Giteau went off for a head injury assessmentAnd unfortunately for Giteau it proved to be the end of his World Cup with Kurtley Beale replacing him Beale went on to the wing with wing Adam AshleyCooper moving into midfieldBut the closing stages of the opening period were dominated by New Zealand with Carter completing his penalty hattrick before New Zealand finally breached Australias defenceSlick passing ended with centre Conrad Smith finding McCaw in support and the skippers offload resulted in MilnerSkuder collecting his sixth try of the tournamentCarters touchline conversion gave New Zealand a 163 interval advantage and there appeared no way back for Australia who were well behind on the scoreboard and having offered little in attackNew Zealand made an interval switch sending on Sonny Bill Williams for Conrad Smith but Australia knew they had to score first or face being dumped out of the contestInevitably the All Blacks had other ideas and they surged further ahead when Nonu gathered loose ball and set off on an arcing run that led to him claiming a superb opportunist tryDespite Carter drifting his conversion attempt narrowly wide New Zealand led by 18 points meaning that Australia required one of rugbys greatest comebacks to deny the All Blacks another world titleNew Zealand though did not help themselves when fullback Ben Smith was yellowcarded for a clumsy tackle on Wallabies wing Drew Mitchell and Australia capitalised immediately with a closerange try for Pocock that Foley convertedAnd it got better for the Wallabies just 11 minutes later when Kuridrani was worked clear in space and his power took him to the line for a try that Foley again converted making it 2117 inside the final quarterCarter though sealed the deal landing a dropgoal and then a longrange penalty as he stepped up to the plate when it mattered in his first World Cup final at the fourth attempt before Barretts runaway score as the clock ticked down finished Australia offIt was though an occasion to savour and gave a memorable England 2015 tournament an outstanding finish