New Zealand 34
Australia 17
A ruthless display from New Zealand saw them make history by becoming the first team to retain the Rugby World Cup.
Steve Hansen's side were excellent in the air and a superb performance from Dan Carter saw them run out comfortable winners in the end, but their victory wasn't without it's shaky moments.
The sides went tit-for-tat in the opening stages of the game, Carter's penalty after seven minutes was cancelled out by a Bernard Foley kick and for a time it seemed it might be a duel of the kickers akin to Wales/England in the pool stages.
Two further penalties for Carter saw the All Blacks lead 9-3 just before the half. But the hits were telling; Australia tried in vain to match New Zealand blow for blow.
Their charges to the gainline left them tired and their concentration faltered just at the end of the first half.
An exceptional offload from Kieran Read set Jerome Kaino through, and he charged over the gainline.
New Zealand recycled the ball and Conrad Smith popped a perfect inside pass to Ben Smith creating the offload.
Some beautiful handling moved it from the full-back, to McCaw, to the wing and Milner-Skudder dived in to score at the corner. Carter duly converted.
Milner-Skudder dives over to get the first try of the match. Image: David Davies / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Concentration failed the Wallabies just after the restart again when a Sonny Bill Williams offload unleashed Milner-Skudder, and the quickly recycled possession worked in favour of the World Champions.
Ma'a Nonu broke through the Australian defence with some great footwork and crossed for a 55-metre try. It looked for all the world it was game over, despite Carter missing his first kick of the day.
However, a yellow card almost cost the All Blacks their control of the game, as Ben Smith was sin binned for his dump tackle, the right decision from Nigel Owens after referring to the TMO.
The driving maul from the resulting penalty saw David Pocock cross and finally breathe some life into Australia. Foley made no mistake from the conversion.
A try at the start of the sin binning period was followed by a try at the end, Tevita Kuridrani chasing down a Kurtley Beale chip and crossing to make it 21-17 after the conversion.
The Wallabies looked energised, ready to take the game to the All Blacks, but as it turned out, this would be their last score of the game.
The return of Smith meant New Zealand were no longer at a deficit and a Carter drop-goal 10 minutes from time made it a two score game.
The drop-goal itself was incredible, if not for the fact that Carter had only scored a handful previous to this World Cup, but he maintained his form from the semi-final to put Australia to the sword.
Carter nails the drop-goal attempt from 43 metres. Image: Mike Egerton / PA Wire/Press Association Images
A final try from Beauden Barrett and another Carter penalty put the gloss on the scoreline to consign New Zealand to the history books; the first team to retain the Rugby World Cup and the first team to win it three times.
A ruthless performance against a spirited Australia outfit, the Southern Hemisphere rules once again and the mighty All Blacks show why they are the most feared team in rugby union.
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