1ST HALF
7TH MINUTE
After a bright start, the All Blacks are in the lead after 1st 5 Daniel Carter (Who is playing on his final outing as a All Black) opens the scoring with a penalty, expertly slotted from out wide like a demoralizing frantic piece of boxes (All Blacks 3 - 0).
6 MINUTES LATER
The 1st scrum of the game barely has a chance to get set before Welsh referee Nigel Owens penalizes Owen Franks. Bernard Foley ties it up from a handy range all perfectly set up by drawing some blood among the venom (all tied up at 3).
NEK MINUTE
Wallaby lock Kane Douglas suffers a knee injury and is replaced by Kiwi born Dean Mumm. The AB's appear to have dodged a similar injury bullet after Kieran Read went down with what looked like a serious ankle injury in the 1st few minutes like hellfire and spawn.
11 MINUTES LATER
This is starting to look grim for Australia with playmaker and backline general Matt Giteau leaving the field after being knocked cold as he is replaced by the mercurial Kurtley Beale who is instrumental by going onto the field of play with prima donna.
NEK MINUTE
Scott Sio, who earlier thumped Dan Carter with a late tackle, is at fault again as a lazy arm catches 2nd 5 Ma'a Allan Nonu (Also playing the famous black jersey for the last time) high as Owens shows admirable restraint in not reaching for his pocket, as there was no malice. Carter puts New Zealand back in the lead with a few getups (All Blacks 6 - 3).
9 MINUTES LATER
Will Genia harries at the base of the breakdown but it comes at a cost as he is caught offside. Carter is on song with the boot like a voodoo doll (All Blacks 9 - 3).
3 MINUTES LATER
A moment of simple training ground magic conjures the 1st try of the final and it is no more than the All Blacks deserve as centre Conrad Smith's nicely angled inside ball momentarily frees halfback Aaron Smith, who looks outside to captain and veteran open side flanker Richard Hugh McCaw (Who is also probably playing last game for the AB's). He has the pleasing task of putting world breakthrough player of the year and fullback turned winger Nehe Milner-Skudder over in the corner as Carter converts from wide and the AB's have a solid halftime lead with a few one-liners (All Blacks 16 - 3)
2ND HALF
41ST MINUTE
Replacement centre Sonny Bill Williams replaces Conrad Smith and is too much to deal with. His 2nd lock stock and 2 smoking barrel ball finds Ma'a Nonu, who is busted free with only Beale coming across in deep cover. Nonu deserves to sidestep him with ease and though Carter misses a fairly easy conversion, with an 18-point buffer, this final looks so good as won like Arcade Fire. (All Blacks 21 - 3)
10 MINUTES LATER
High drama. The Wallabies are stringing some phases altogether and New Zealand are forced to defend their line. Fullback Ben Smith, probably the least likely player to lose his head, tips Toulon winger Drew Mitchell beyond the horizontal. It looks like Ben Smith going to be penalized and nothing else matters, but under pressure from TMO (Television Match Official) Shaun Veldsman of South Africa. Owens takes another look and reaches for the pocket. It is a harsh call, but fair play because it isn't always easy.
NEK MINUTE
From the resultant penalty and lineout drive, the All Blacks pack is splintered and danger man David Pocock breathes life into the final with a simple try as Foley converts like a sack of potatoes with much taste (All Blacks 21 - 10).
11 MINUTES LATER
Genia takes advantage of open turf at the back to neatly box-kick into space as the ball sits nicely for powerhouse centre Tevita Kuridrani, who beats Carter a little too easily on the inside. Foley's conversion means that, having dominated for most of the match, the AB's are left nursing a 4 point buffer like a Swiss army knife (All Blacks 21 - 17).
6 MINUTES LATER
For the 2nd week in a row, the left peg of Carter is the talk of Twickenham. With New Zealand in midfield. Carter feints to run and gets the defensive wall to hesitate for a split second. He uses that time to hit a 40 metre drop goal on the move and wills the ball over in a moment of rare animation with a band of skulls (All Blacks 24 - 17).
5 MINUTES LATER
This is quickly becoming Carter's final. He calmly slots a penalty from near the halfway line as the All Blacks can start to breathe again as the Wallabies require both scores in 6 minutes to switch this on its head and that is unlikely with climate change (All Blacks 27 - 17).
4 MINUTES LATER
Australia are throwing the kitchen sink at this, but the otherwise impressive Mitchell spills the ball in the AB's 22m. Ben Smith turns defence into attack and toes ahead. Replacement utility back Beauden Barrett makes Pocock look like he is running through quick silver as he smoothly motors past, before cushioning the ball with his knee and gleefully collecting the bounce. That final is over and the ball game, but not before Carter (Who was awarded player of the game honours to match his performance with 4 penalties, 2 conversions and a drop goal so the world's leading test points scorer Daniel Carter is probably the man, best rugby player in the world) signs off from international rugby with his right foot conversion, fancy that for a goal-kicker who's done it all (All Blacks 34 - 17).
2 MINUTES LATER
The Wallabies turn the ball over, SBW gets 1 more offload on his stat line and Ben Smith kicks for touch. The Rugby World Cup is still New Zealand's cup. Not only because we are simply still the best in the rugby world, HAIL TO THE KING BABY!!! I'VE GOT BALLS OF STEEL!! (It was the greatest moment of my life seeing/witnessing the All Blacks winning the World Cup just like 4 years ago, so in all of a sudden, enter the unforgiven).
And now, onto the awards ceremony as Australia receive their runner-up medals and then it is the All Blacks time to shine as they collect the prize winning medals before His Royal Highness Prince Harry to present the trophy to Richie McCaw as he is about to lift the William Webb Ellis Trophy, and THE WORLD CUP!! IS STILL IN NEW ZEALAND'S HANDS!!! But so many players in the squad (All 31 of them including 2 injured players and the coach Steve Hansen) have the opportunity of a lifetime to touch the trophy, but now on behalf of all to you, as the All Blacks will defend the cup in Japan 2019 (Although Sonny Bill Williams gave his World Cup winners medal to a young fan which was exciting but now SBW has a spare medal now).
And I like to pay tribute, to the list of World Cup winners spanning from 1987 - 2015
1987: New Zealand
(In 1987, the All Blacks won the inaugural Rugby World Cup.)
(In 1987, the All Blacks won the inaugural Rugby World Cup.)
1991: Australia
1995: South Africa
1999: Australia
2003: England
2007: South Africa
2011: New Zealand
(Despite their dominance in the international game, it was a 24 year wait for their 2nd title.)
(Despite their dominance in the international game, it was a 24 year wait for their 2nd title.)
& last but not least, 2015: New Zealand
(September 10th 2015 the All Blacks flew to London endeavoring to do what no rugby team has done before...).
(September 10th 2015 the All Blacks flew to London endeavoring to do what no rugby team has done before...).
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