New Zealand 34 Australia 17

NEW Zealand are world champions after withstanding an Australia fightback in a fitting finale to a wonderful tournament at Twickenham.

The All Blacks became the first nation to retain their crown – but only after digging deep following a stirring fight back from the Wallabies.

It looked like a drubbing was on the cards when the Kiwis crossed for their second try early in the second half to lead 21-3 but the Australians rallied, making their neighbours really earn their crown.

The occasion proved that the best two sides on the globe had made it to Twickenham and in the end it was fitting that the star of the show was Dan Carter, the fly-half who was denied the chance to wear 10 on his back on home soil in the final four years earlier.

He slotted a majestic drop goal to settle the nerves when the Aussies scented a famous comeback and pulled the strings wonderfully when wearing the black jersey for the final time before his move to Racing 92.

Carter helped ensure that New Zealand’s cast of stars, many of whom are joining him in international retirement, lifted the trophy to prompt plenty of pub debates about whether they are the greatest side ever. They were comfortably the best side of 2015.

The All Blacks stepped it up at the end of a slightly scrappy first half to do the damage.

The Wallabies, who had qualified from a nightmare group and were on the back of a six-day turnaround from their semi-final success, were flagging as the break approached and were made to pay.

New Zealand had bossed matters with emphasis on the boot early on – they even went for a grubber off a set piece inside the Aussies’ 22, the sort of thing that northern hemisphere sides would be lambasted for – and were rewarded with a 6-3 lead.

Fly-half Dan Carter’s third penalty made it 9-3 as the break loomed, referee Nigel Owens and touch judge Wayne Barnes somehow missing a blatant forward pass in the build-up to the offence, and then came a telling blow with what transpired to be the final play of the half.

It was a classy effort that started deep inside their own half and ended with McCaw putting wing Nehe Milner-Skudder over down the right for a score that Carter converted for 16-3. Sensational yet simple rugby.

The Aussies had barely troubled the holders with ball in hand with their hopes hit by the departure of Matt Giteau because of a head injury, boss Michael Cheika opting for Kurtley Beale as a replacement rather than another playmaker in Matt Toomua.

No team had ever come from behind to win a World Cup final and it looked clear that the stat would continue to Japan after another stunning score in the 42nd minute.

Centre Sonny Bill Williams, fresh off the bench, conjured a majestic offload 40 metres out to midfield partner Ma’a Nonu who put the covering Beale on his backside with a swing of his hips before powering over.

Carter surprisingly missed the conversion but it felt like game over... only for the Wallabies to rally.

They laid siege to the All Blacks line and Ben Smith was sin-binned for lifting the leg of Drew Mitchell in a tackle, Owens being convinced to show the yellow by the TMO, and the resulting penalty was kicked to the corner for number eight David Pocock to go over for a score that Foley improved.

At 21-10 the men in gold were still massive underdogs but had a yellow period to try and exploit.

And exploit it they did with a cracker of their own with scrum-half Will Genia’s box kick gathered by Foley, who offloaded for centre Tevita Kuridrani to burst over for a seven-pointer.

Smith’s indiscretion had cost 14 points – very unlike New Zealand – and at 21-17 with 15 minutes left it was very much game on.

The All Blacks were stung into action and a super period of power running saw them stretch seven points ahead thanks a beautiful Carter drop goal with 10 minutes remaining.

And that cultured, Paris-bound left boot secured the crown with a long range penalty before replacement Beauden Barrett scorched over after Ben Smith had hacked on following a Mitchell knock-on.

New Zealand scorers: tries –N Milner-Skudder, M Nonu, B Barrett; conversions – D Carter (2); penalties – D Carter (4); drop goal – D Carter

Australia scorers: T Kuridrani, D Pocock; conversions – B Foley (2); penalty – B Foley