All Blacks 34 - 17 Australia
VIDEO NOW UP
80 Min: CARTER SLOTS IT WITH HIS RIGHT FOOT AND NOW WE JUST WAIT FOR THE CLOCK TO RUN OUT.
79 Min: Beale cuts it inside to Mitchell who drops it again! Beauden Barrett kicks the loose ball ahead! Beauden Barrett WILL. GO. ALL. THE. WAYYYYYYY!!!! HE'S GASSED POCOCK AND PUT THE BALL DOWN! THE WORLD CUP IS COMING BACK TO NZ!
77 Min: Australia bring it up to New Zealand's 22 and Beale darts down the right wing but it's great defence from Dan Carter...
Now some width and Mitchell looks to have broken the gap but loses the ball forwards! Nigel Owen calls advantage...Barrett makes the clearance and Australia take the quick throw...Still on the attack.76 Min: Australia straight on the front foot from the kick-off...They're just managing to stay in possession...
75 Min: Carter slots it over! 10 points in it! Huge turnaround! WHAT RESILIENCE.
74 Min: The engraver is already underway on the World Cup! Is that too soon? WHATS HE ENGRAVING...
73 Min: All Blacks taking their time with the srcum to chew up time...And the penalty eventually goes the All Blacks way! Carter will surely have a pop at this from halfway.
71 Min: Kerr_Barlow and Vito on for Aaron Smith and Kaino.
70 Min: All Blacks bring their lineout down and again look to hold on to the bal...fired back to CARTER FOR A 40 METRE DROP GOAL AND IT IS GOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Huge moment!!
69 Min: All Blacks win the lineout against the throw and Mealamu makes a good run...NZ on the Wallabies 22...Carter with a little cross-field bomb but Beale comes across and calls mark. Great effort from the substitute.
67 Min: Wallabies over the ABs advantage line and they're are looking much more dangerous as Folau drops it backwards...NZ roll over and get the turn over...Ben Smith kicks straight down the throat of Folau who kicks it back downfield to Barrett...Now Carter puts into touch and GIVES THE TEAM A REV UP.
66 Min: Drew Mitchell is off for Matt Toomua.
64 Min: Foley puts the conversion over. Barrett has come on for Milner-Skudder.
63 Min: Sonny Bill finds space out on the right wing but has no one to offload to! Wallabies turen it over with ease at the breakdown...Foley from inside his 22 boots it into some space, Milner-Skudder can't clear it out and now Beale races up the park....little chip over the top and Foley claims it! Brings it down! Passes inside to Kuridrani who has TOO MUCH POWER and goes over the line for a TRYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLE!
61 Min: Fardy replaced by McCalman...Kiwi lineout and Coles goes short to form the maul...And it's turned over. Great effort by the Wallabies to hold that up.
60 Min: All Blacks soaking up time just ahead of the halfway line and they get the penalty. Carter will make sure he smashes this one into touch.
58 Min: Carter can't find touch with his penalty and the Wallabies come back up...Beale with a deep kick into space. Milner-Skudder's kick is tested but he does a decent job of clearing it...Ben Franks comes on for Moody.
57 Min: Aus working through their phases as Kaino appears to tackle someone above the neck...Drew Mitchell probing on the left before being brought down on the right wing....Foley looks dangerous again with his dancing feet...But the All Blacks withstand the pressure and are awarded the penalty!
56 Min: Aussie skipper Stephen Moore is off for Polota-Nau. Wallabies starting to get back into the game. They're staying in the All Blacks half.
55 Min: ABs make a change it's Franks off for Faumuina.
54 Min: Foley slots the conversion.
53 Min: They're taking a look at a lot of replays here despite having already made his mind up to only call a penalty...and then he has another look and shows a yellow! Ben Smith is now off for 10 minutes! If the Wallabies are going to get back into this then now is the time...And just like that, Pocock is over for a TRY!
52 Min: Australia inside NZ's 22...Foley with a nice step and goes hard at the liune but is held up...Wallabies have numbers out to the right but they don't use them and now they're getting up the middle hard with their forwards...They come centimetres from the line! Ref stops play though and Owens and Barnes are going to have a look at a tip-tackle by Ben Smith. Barnes suggested a yellow card. Typical.
50 Min: The Wallabies scrum crumbles and the ALl Blacks roll over, Smith jumps on quickly and flicks it to Nehe who gets down the right wing before losing it into the hands of Beale who is away now! Belae with gas! Throws it back inside and Fardy can't get it under control, Read snaps it up, looks to counter the counter of the counter before Pocock earns a penalty for Australia. Open game this one!
48 Min: Just as I say that and Mitchell blasts through a gap but McCaw is a nuisance at the breakdown and nearly gets the steal. Owens hands the penalty to the Wallabies.
47 Min: It looks like there is no way back into this for the Wallabies. All Blacks defence is ferocious.
44 Min: Carter misses the kick.
43 Min: SBW's first touch is a great offload to Milner-Skudder who almost breaks the line but it's followed up by Nonu who gets through the gap! Steps a defender! HE GETS TO THE LINE! NONU IS OVER! TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
42 Min: Wallabies up at halfway and Foley with a little chip over the top but McCaw pulls it down and cleans up.
41 Min: We certainly are back out and Sonny Bill Williams is on the park for Conrad Smith who is off with a knock. Carter kicks off!
Wow. Well, what else did you expect from the English?
Is that allowed Quade? Yes, yes it is because I just double-checked and realised he isn't in the matchday squad.
OF COURSE IT'S TOO EARLY CORY. TOUCH SOME WOOD URGENTLY.
Twitter feuds have begun...
HALFTIME: All Blacks in the driver's seat but don't go away! A lot can happen in 40 minutes of rugby.
40 Min: Carter from the sideline...And it's a beauty! Halftime hooter goes and we head into the break! Brilliant end to the half!
39 Min: All Blacks making some inroads here...they're up over the 22 and a try seems to be begging! Good hands from Smith to grab the ball from low, back inside to Smith TO MCCAW TO NEHE MILNER-SKUDDER FOR THE OPENING TRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
38 Min: Good ground gained by New Zealand from inside their 22...It goes inside but it's very scrappy as it's put down by Moody. Player's throwing themselves all over the place to field that ball. Eventually goes out for an All Black lineout.
36 Min: Carter slots that and the ABs go up by six!
34 Min: The ALl Blacks get away with a forward pass on the right wing from Milner-Skudder to Kaino, Wayne Barnes of all people to keep his flag down! All Blacks get a penalty and Carter will kick for goal.
33 Min: Another loose lineout from the Wallabies and here come NZ on the counter! Nehe kicks ahead, it's too deep and Adam Ashley-Cooper calls mark. Wallabies get out of jail, they were scrambling.
31 Min: Milner-Skudder gets a popped pass from Smith and makes some ground down the right wing before Moody loses it...Wallabies kick downfield and Read picks up the ball and puts up the high ball! Tries to retrieve it, you're not a back Read! Penalty Australia.
29 Min: Israel Folau given some room to run as he brings up a kick...Wallabies work through their phases before being pushed back by strong defence, Beale with an ineffective kick from the middle of the park and Smith will field that.
27 Min: Right, after all of that and Dan Carter converts the penalty he won after being tackled head high.
25 Min: All Blacks work through their phases until Carter is hit high...Matt Giteau on the other hand needs to leave the field because he went down and then got up to join the All Blacks attack, He's staggering everywhere and appears heavily concussed. Kurtley Beale on for now.
24 Min: Messy lineout from the Wallabies and a penalty goes NZ's way as Dean Mumm pulls down Retallick during the jump.
22 Min: Another good kick and another good lineout but it's been turned over and Aus go on the counter. Ashley-Cooper with a kick down the wing for someone to run onto but the All Blacks field it and go up the other end...they're over the advantage line as it goes to Retallick...But Scott Fardy good work at the breakdown gets the penalty to go Wallabies way!
21 Min: Hearts in mouths right now as Dan Carter is hit late by Kepu and he stays down...#prayfordan...Kepu is being ushered over by Owens aaaaaaaand he's lucky to not be binned! It will be a penalty to the All Blacks on halfway. Carter is up and will kick for touch.
18 Min: Carter kicks for touch rather than kick for goal. Aggressive rugby...Bit of push and shove between Joe Moody and Moore at the front of the lineout. Nigel Owens quick to stop it...Lineout is good for the ABs and it's another penalty to the All Blacks but they take the quick tap and go for the line, Wallabies get the penalty this time! Kaino didn't release and not taking the points could come back to bite them.
17 Min: Wallabies looking feverish at the breakdown but they are over eager and give away the penalty. Stephen Moore's nose is non-stop bleeding.
17 Min: Dean Mumm replaces Douglas, who's final you imagine is over after that injury.
16 Min: All Blacks win back the kick-off and spread it to Savea on the left who gets past one tackler before being brought down and then robbed of the ball at the breakdown by Hooper. He combined with Pocock who made the tackle...Kane Douglas is down clutching leg and the replays show he fell on it very, very awkwardly.
15 Min: Foley slots the straight forward penalty.
14 Min: All Blacks penalised in the scrum. Looks like it was Owen Franks losing the binding. You imagine Aus will kick at goal here to level things...and that is exactly what Foley will do.
13 Min: Wobbly kick for Ben SMith to field in his own 22 and he knocks it on! Big Chance for Australia.
12 Min: Another box kick from Aaron Smith off a tidy lineout. Ben Smith very nearly gets there but it goes out on the full.
11 Min: All Blacks doing brilliantly at the breakdown, regularly turning it over and not allowing Australia any chances to run with it.
10 Min: Read's issue appears to be his foot....All Blacks kick from their 22 and Israel Folau collects. Wallabies over the halfway line, first real spell of possession with the ball but NZ turn it over and Ben Smith punts it ineffectively to Folau who sends it right back downfield...Bit of ping pong going on here as no one can find touch.
9 Min: Vito is on call on the sideline ready to come on for Kieran Read who is staying on. You can imagine he wants to. Stephen Moore changes his shirt because of blood and gets some wolf whistles.
7 Min: Doubt over Kieran Read who went down hard in a tackle...meanwhile, Dan Carter lines up a kick...and slots it!
6 Min: Another good lineout from the All Blacks and again another blockbusting run from Nonu...Nehe Milner-Skudder with some room to move on the right side, no one in support to offload. Now they go to the left wing and Savea has McCaw in support but decides to go himself! Good defence from the Wallabies but play is brought back for the penalty.
Another look at Stephen Moore's face
5 Min: Goes in again and Aaron Smith puts in a grubber which is fielded by Mitchell and sent to Foley who puts out a wobbly kick.
4 Min: First look at the scrum this morning...And it goes down on the far side.
2 Min: Big defence from the All Blacks to start with as the Wallabies are reluctant to kick. Early charge down from the ABs and Stephen Moore is already bleeding from the nose! All Blacks lineout and Ma'a Nonu makes a good start! Great run from him past a couple of defenders, All Blacks up to the five-metre line but Whitelock fumbles it! Ref Nigel Owens brings things back for an All Blacks penalty. Bright start for NZ.
1 Min: Foley kicks off and we are underway! Sam Whitelock with a GREAT take to begin proceedings. Kaino follows that up with a BIG hit on Folau!
5.02am: Some late support from around NZ
5am: IT'S FINAL TIME!
4.59am: Rousing stuff and now the Haka! The real deal!
4.56am: Please rise for the national anthems...
4.55am: The teams come out on to the field! There's a fly over from a bunch of jets! ITS ALL HAPPENING!
4.54am: The teams are in the tunnel! The teams are pumped! The teams are ready to kill each other to win this trophy. This is going to be exciting!
4.47am: Looks like everyone getting in behind New Zealand. Including multi-squillion-billionaire Richard Branson!
4.45am: THE BLOOD IS PUMPING AND THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. No 'Northern Hemisphere tactics' hopefully...
4.40am: After a triple-overtime win over the Orlando Magic, Kiwi NBA baller Steven Adams is getting right in behind the All Blacks! He's a self-confessed fanatic.
4.38am: She won't do it herself?? Disappointing...
4.37am: GReat to hear that All Blacks fans reportedly outnumber the Wallabies fans 10 to 1 at Twickenham!
4.32am: The coin toss is done and the Wallabies will be kicking off to the All Blacks to start things off.
4.26am: Hate to be the bearer of bad news but Act MP David Seymour's champagne breakfast for the All Blacks at the Horse and Trap in Mt Eden is now officially sold out.
4.20am: Australia captain Stephen Moore is confident. Says playing for 80 minutes is the key. Doesn't look scared. Still bald.
4.16am: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho keen to get involved! After a 3-1 loss to Liverpool this morning, get behind the All Blacks and support a winning team, mate!
4.15am: McCaw loving the fact the sun is out. No place he'd rather be. It is positively balmy in London, 17 degree heat, no cloud expected and very light winds. Going to be a ripper!
4.10am: Both teams are at the ground and while we didn't get to follow the team buses heading to Eden Park live through the suburbs of Auckland like in 2011, this video is still pretty handy.
Kick-off isn't far away but in the meantime you can watch David Di Somma's preview of this morning's match.
Read More:
Starting XV:
All Blacks: 1. Joe Moody, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Richie McCaw, 8. Kieran Read, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Dan Carter, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 15. Ben Smith
Reserves: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19. Victor Vito, 20. Sam Cane, 21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22. Beauden Barrett, 23. Sonny Bill Williams
Wallabies: 1. Scott Sio, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Kane Douglas, 5. Rob Simmons, 6. Scott Fardy, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. David Pocock, 9. Will Genia, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Drew Mitchell, 12. Matt Giteau, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 15. Israel Folau
Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Greg Holmes, 18. James Slipper, 19. Dean Mumm, 20. Ben McCalman, 21. Nick Phipps, 22. Matt Toomua, 23. Kurtley Beale
Betting odds: New Zealand - $1.35 Australia - $3.00
Pregame banter:
All is set for the Rugby World Cup final - and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen says his team's preparation cannot be faulted.
Both the All Blacks and the Wallabies have had their traditional look around the Test venue at Twickenham.
The All Blacks kickers were the only ones present with Dan Carter preparing for his first Rugby World Cup final and his last game in an All Black jersey.
The world-record points scorer missed out on previous finals through injury and although his knee is heavily strapped, he says he is fit and good to go.
Much has been made about his farewell appearance for the All Blacks, along with Richie McCaw, Kevin Mealamu, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Carter says he's all about winning the cup for the team, though he did admit he signed a four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) after the 2011 tournament because he wanted to play in a World Cup final – his day is now here.
Carter will line up for his 112th and final Test appearance before embarking on a lucrative three-year contract with French club Racing 92.
The 33-year-old first five-eighth features in a first World Cup final at the culmination of what is his fourth tournament and New Zealand will hope he can deliver another trademark inspired display.
New Zealand will become the first nation to claim back-to-back world titles if they beat Australia on Saturday, and an obviously-relaxed Carter is relishing the challenge that awaits.
He says the key to performing on big occasions is to keep emotions in check and not become fixated by the outcome.
"It's not about me, it is not about guys playing their last game, it is about this 2015 All Blacks side that has been working extremely hard all year.
"My motivating factor is just wanting to go out there and play the best I possibly can for my team-mates alongside me."
Meanwhile, Australia appear to have revealed their tactics for the final, with briefing notes carried by coach Michael Cheika and assistant Mario Ledesma photographed at Twickenham yesterday.
The normally secret team instructions included Australian players being told to "expose" the All Blacks wing duo of Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea under the high ball, while they were also urged to "rattle" No.8 Kieran Read at re-starts.
"Australia appeared to have unknowingly revealed their tactics," said The Guardian.
The notes also tell the Wallabies to counter New Zealand's excellent kicking game with the words "own the air space, catch everything, chase everything, escort wingers".
But Cheika cut a relaxed figure on the eve of the final, though he knows there's a huge task ahead to regain the Webb Ellis Cup.
With his team 80 minutes away from achieving the greatest feat in Australian rugby history, Cheika is in no mood to look backwards.
He admitted they'd hung on too long to their dominant performances in the so-called Pool of Death, and potentially patted themselves a bit too much, and it nearly resulted in a shock quarter-final exit to Scotland - before a controversial last-minute penalty helped them advance.
So they won't be drawing too much from that gutsy win, or the 13-man defensive effort against Wales a week earlier, or even their gritty semi-final win over Argentina.
Even their victory over the All Blacks in August, which saw the debut of the unbeaten David Pocock-Michael Hooper back-row combination, doesn't rate a mention for Cheika this week.
"They always say (if) you look backwards, you're only going to get a sore neck," Cheika said after his team's captain's run on Friday.
"For us, it's there but it means nothing really. Is it a few little tactical things really, maybe, but it really means nothing.
"It's what happens in the next day or so that's in front of us."
For some added incentive, it appears the Kiwis will have Princes Harry and William and Duchess Kate watching the final from the New Zealand box at Twickenham this morning.
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew has hinted as much in a radio interview ahead of the final between Australia and the All Blacks in London on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
"There's a couple of things you are not allowed to talk about in the lead-up to a Rugby World Cup final and one of them is 'how many royals are in your box?', and I know the answer to that question (but) if I tell you I'll have to shoot you," Tew told Newstalk ZB.
He was then asked if New Zealand would prefer William and Kate over rugby-mad Harry.
"Without wanting to take your life early... we might end up with both of them," he replied.
"I'm just speculating. We had Grandad (Prince Philip) there last week."
Prince Harry, the patron of English rugby, will present the trophy to the winning team.
Read More:
3 News
