All Blacks Capture World Cup Title

The New Zealand All Blacks have captured their second consecutive World Cup title with a 34-17 win over Australia at Twickenham Stadium in London. New Zealand looked to pull away early in the second half only to see the Wallabies come charging back. A late surge from the All Blacks finished the match on a high note as a number of legendary All Blacks finished their international careers on a high note.

“On a night like this it’s tough when you get a winner and a loser, but I thought Australia were magnificent in the way they approached the game,“ said New Zealand Head Coach Steve Hansen. “They never gave up and at 21-17 could even have won the game. Myself and the team would like to acknowledge them for being the opponents they are.”

New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter was nearly perfect with his boot as he put up 17 points on four penalty goals, a conversion, and a drop goal. Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ma’a Nonu, and Beauden Barrett each crossed the line in the historic win for the All Blacks.

The two sides traded territory early in the match as both sides came out playing physical rugby. New Zealand struck first with a penalty from Carter. Australia answered back in the 14th minute with a penalty from Bernard Foley to tie the match.

Carter added penalty goals in the 27th and 36th minute as the All Blacks inched out to a 9-3 lead as the match neared the half. With the first half about to expire, the All Blacks scored the first try of the match as Milner-Skudder crossed the line. Carter added the conversion and what appeared to be a 9-3 halftime deficit for the Wallabies was now 16-3.

The All Blacks appeared on the verge of putting the match away early in the second half as Nonu charged through the Wallaby defense to score in the 42nd minute. The try gave the All Blacks a commanding 21-3 lead.

As New Zealand looked to continue to pull away, Australia were rewarded with a yellow card to New Zealand fullback Ben Smith on what could have been a controversial play. With the man advantage, Australia stormed back into the match with tries from David Pocock in the 53rd minute and a try from Tevita Kuridrani in the 64th minute. Both scores were converted by Foley as Australia nearly erased the All Black’s lead. With the score at 21-17 entering the final quarter of the match, fans were going to get the thrilling finish that everyone expected.

New Zealand did not seemed to be phased by the surge from the Wallabies and with numbers back to even, they went to work on the scoreboard. Carter gave the All Blacks some breathing room with a 70th minute drop goal and followed that with a penalty goal in the 75th minute to give New Zealand a 27-17 lead with less than five minutes to play.

With time dwindling, fans were treated to one final piece of magic from the All Blacks at the World Cup as Beauden Barrett scored off of a long kick and chase. The conversion from Carter left the score at 34-17 as the All Blacks sealed another World Cup victory. The title was New Zealand’s third overall World Cup Championship and their second in a row.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WSBE4uSjgQ