In a game they dominated the Kiwis were able to deal with their neighbours from Australia with relative ease. New Zealand eased their way to a 16-3 lead at half time through three Dan Carter penalties, and a Milner-Skudder try converted by Dan Carter.
Further scores in the second half from Nonu almost immediately at the restart and a Beaudin Barrit try at the end, confirmed the All Blacks’ history-making exploits. The Australians made the Kiwis work for the game and with Ben Smith in the sin bin scored two tries to get within four points of the All Blacks, but that was a close as it got.
Dan Carter will quite rightly get the headlines after putting in a man of the match performance in his last game in an All Black shirt and playing in his first Rugby World Cup Final. The All Blacks confirmed their dominance of rugby union and are worthy champions again.
