Rugby World Cup Final: New Zealand Tops Australia To Retain World Title

The William Webb Ellis Cup will spend the next four years exactly where it’s resided for the last four: New Zealand.

The All Blacks on Saturday became the first nation to win consecutive Rugby World Cups, defeating rival Australia 34-17 at London’s Twickenham Stadium in the final of the 2015 tournament. They also are the first to win three total, having hoisted the Cup in 1987 and 2011.

“We said four years ago, after the last (World Cup), that we’d get on the road again with this being the end goal: playing here at Twickenham in a World Cup final and try and do something no one else as done,” New Zealand captain Richie McCaw said in an on-field interview after the game. “And I’m so proud of the way the guys have done it today.”

The match initially had the makings of a rout, as a Ma’a Nonu try just two minutes into the second half gave the reigning champs a 21-3 lead. But the momentum took a turn when, in the 52nd minute, All Blacks fullback Ben Smith was given a yellow card, forcing New Zealand to play a man down for 10 minutes.

Australia proceeded to score two tries with Smith in the sin bin, trimming the 18-point deficit to four with a full 15 minutes left to play.

A drop goal and a penalty kick by Dan Carter put the All Blacks back ahead by 10, however, and a 79th minute try by Beauden Barrett — off a downfield kick by Smith — put the game away.

beauden barrett

“They’re the world champions,” Australia coach Michael Chieka said in an on-field interview. “And they deserve to be that way.”

Carter, who missed the 2011 Cup final due to injury, scored 19 of his team’s 34 points (four penalties, two conversions and a drop goal) to earn man of the match honors for New Zealand.