New Zealand became the first team to retain the World Cup and win it three times with a performance of pace, power and skill that was too much for Australia who, despite rallying in the second-half when they had a man advantage for 10 minutes, were outclassed. Dan Carter finished with 19 points and the man of the match award in his final appearance for the All Blacks, finally and fittingly winning the tournament that for so long had hurt him. Like the rest of the All Blacks, he was peerless.

New Zealand started like a whirlwind that was still howling at the end of the first-half. Australia were forced to cling on, competing at the breakdown but struggling to plug holes that were exposed virtually every move. It took the All Blacks 38 minutes to score their first try, but it was the result of the preparatory work they had put in, crashing into rucks and tackles, driving hard in contact and testing the Wallabies, but it was the speed they did everything at that made the opening period one-sided.

Two minutes from half-time Australia were trailing 9-3, a score they would have taken into the interval given their failure to mount an attack in New Zealand’s 22. They had defended vigorously, winning turnovers on their own line and scrambling well after half-breaks by Ma’a Nonu and Nehe Milner-Skudder, but at no point did they exert any control.

Their lineout, already a jumper down to accommodate David Pocock and Michael Hooper in the back row, suffered when Kane Douglas left the field with a twisted knee after Australia were caught out by a short New Zealand restart: Stephen Moore was not spoiled for options, and when the hooker was forced to overthrow at a lineout 30 metres from New Zealand’s line, their best attacking position of the half, the Wallabies spent the rest of the half tackling.

The All Blacks were relentless, using Milner-Skudder to jink his way over the gain line rather than Nonu blast his way through, and the more they quickly recycled the ball, the more they were able to split Hooper and Pocock an reduce the threat of being turned over and in the space of three minutes either side of half-time, the match turned.

New Zealand had been fortunate to get away with minor indiscretions: a forward pass, knock-on and accidental onside were missed by the officials in a few minutes, but the rising water level for Australia was by now head-height and they were hanging on for the interval and relief when Conrad Smith changed the angle of the attack by ducking inside and then passing to Aaron Smith in Australia’s 22 as the scrum-half moved to the outside. The ball continued right to Richie McCaw and the captain freed Milner-Skudder.

It was Conrad Smith’s last contribution in the match and in an international and it was fittingly sublime. He was replaced at the start of the second half by Sonny Bill Williams as New Zealand looked to finish the game quickly. He touched the ball twice, in the same move, and the second was an overhead pass to Nonu that the centre took on a diagonal run 40 metres out. He was shadowed by Tevita Kuridrani, but beat him for pace and saw off four other defenders on his way to the line. Australia had by now lost Matt Giteau through concussion after the centre found his head in the wrong place as he attempted a tackle on the second row Brodie Retallick as well as Douglas. The New Zealand No 8 Kieran Read had looked like being the first casualty after having his right ankle heavily strapped in the opening minutes, but he limped on as if oblivious to pain, the selflessness of an All Black.

Australia were in a different sort of pain. The prop Sekope Kepu was fortunate to get away with warnings after first tackling Dan Carter late and then grabbing the outside-half around the neck. Their first-up tackling was strong and after Aaron Smith had taken a penalty quickly five metres from Australia line when the score was 6-3, Kaino was penalised for holding on.

It was Australia who were holding on, but at the moment the Cup looked to have slipped from their grasp, they got a grip of themselves. The Wallabies mounted their first attack of the match 50 minutes in without discomforting New Zealand when the full-back Ben Smith tipped over Drew Mitchell in a tackle and, after the intervention of the touch judge, he was sent to the sin-bin.

Australia kicked the penalty to touch and when Rob Simmons won the lineout, the All Blacks were caught between defending in the wider channels and containing a driving maul and were unable to stop Pocock from being driven over. The Wallabies’ tournament had started with two Pocock tries from line-outs against Fiji and before Ben Smith returned, they had reduced the gap to four points.

Milner-Skudder’s loose kick gave Genia the opportunity to chip into space in New Zealand’s 22. Mitchell won the race to the ball and though the bounce took it above his head, he had the presence of mind to wait for Kuridrani to arrive in support and the centre had just enough pace to reach the line and leave the holders wondering for the first time in the match.

And then Carter stepped up, as great players do. He dropped a goal from 45 metres and landed a penalty from near the halfway line, his longest of the tournament to give his side a cushion. So Australia’s final attacks were to make the scoreline suggest a close match which, for all their brief comeback, it wasn’t. So it was fitting when Mitchell, not for the first time, lost possession, Ben Smith hacked on and Beauden Barrett finished the final in style.

(The Guardian)