1. All eyes were on Richie McCaw as he bid to captain New Zealand to back-to-back World Cups…
2. But there was a sense that Michael Cheika and Michael Hooper could spoil the party
3. The haka was as intense as you’d expect
4. Dan Carter and Bernard Foley traded penalties before Carter kicked New Zealand into a 9-3 lead
5. A magnificent inside pass from Conrad Smith helped to create the game’s opening try, finished by Nehe Milner-Skudder
6. And when Ma’a Nonu raced away early in the second half to put New Zealand 21-3 ahead, the final looked to be done and dusted
7. But Ben Smith was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Drew Mitchell
8. And while he was in the bin, Australia launched a brilliant comeback with two tries, first through David Pocock…
9. And then through Tevita Kuridrani to cut the gap to 21-17
10. With the game in the balance, Dan Carter stepped up and pinged a drop goal worthy of winning any final from 40+ metres
11. Carter added another monster penalty to bring the Webb Ellis Cup within touching distance
12. And Beauden Barrett iced the cake with a third try in the final moments
13. Congratulations, New Zealand
