Six of the first seven Rugby World Cup finals featured either New Zealand or Australia. The eighth will be the first to feature both.
The two perennial powerhouses this weekend punched their tickets to the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with New Zealand edging rival South Africa in Saturday’s first semifinal and Australia pulling away from Argentina on Sunday.
A 60th-minute penalty kick by Dan Carter proved to be the game-winner in the All Blacks’ 20-18 victory. Carter also nailed a drop goal and a pair of conversions, and Jerome Kaino and Beauden Barrett each scored a try.
The Wallabies, meanwhile, got three tries from Adam Ashley-Cooper to deny the Pumas their first final appearance. The 29-15 win also snapped a 12-year final drought for Australia, who bowed out in the quarterfinals of the 2007 World Cup and the semis in 2011.
Both New Zealand and Australia are seeking a third World Cup title, with the former looking to become the first nation to win two in a row. New Zealand traditionally has dominated the century-old rivalry, going 105-42-7 all time against Australia and 9-1-2 in their last 12 meetings.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@BBCSport
