All Blacks All Champs

Dan Carter finished his Test career with 19 points as New Zealand became the first team to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup title after a 34-17 victory over arch-rivals Australia on Saturday.

Carter's man of the match performance more than made up for his missing out on the victory on home soil in 2011 because of an injury suffered during that tournament.

New Zealand became the first team to win the trophy three times although they had to withstand a ferocious fight-back from 21-3 down by Australia.

New Zealand took half time leading 16-3 thanks to some spectacular goal kicking from fly-half Daniel Carter who slammed in three angular penalties before front row player Milner Skudder crashed over the line to score the first try. Carter had no difficulty converting the try despite it being from almost the touchline far right.

New Zealand looked the better team in the first half and rightly so deserved their lead as they kept harassing the Ausssie defence for most of the 40 minutes that forced the Wallabies to concede as many as six penalties at one stage that pushed them back.

New Zealand's forwards also drove back the Aussie pack whenever they had the chance while they raked in plenty of ball from the line-outs and their backs ran at the slightest opening.

New Zealand's try on the stroke of half-time was just what the All Blacks had searched for after a brilliant handling move involving centre Conrad Smith, scrum-half Aaron Smith and skipper Richie McCaw sent right wing Milner-Skudder in at the corner. Carter added the difficult conversion and New Zealand had a 13-point lead at the break with the Wallabies having lost two key players to injury centre Matt Giteau and lock Kane Douglas.

No team had ever come back from a deficit at halftime to win the trophy.