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New Zealand v Australia preview

They also have huge experience with many of their team World Cup winners from four years ago.

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“Australia will win this game because I just have that feeling that Australia is up for the game”.

Tony Stuart is a Wallabies supporter born in New Zealand – yes, there is such a thing. “I can remember when Damian would play rugby barefoot when we were in New Zealand”.

Injured Wallabies lock Will Skelton was present at the announcement in Sydney this week before flying over to join the team for their final preparations.

Whatever their travails off the pitch or their problems up front, their one constant has been an ability to compete with New Zealand at the breakdown, the single most important area in the modern game.

You tend to lose rugby matches, not win them sometimes and that is never more evident than when you play New Zealand.

So with the New Zealand team and the Mother Country tied on eight points each, a grand final match was held at Twickenham to decide the cup, which New Zealand won 9-3.

Carter’s influence was for all to see when his drop goal helped spark the fight back that saw the All Blacks overcome a 12-7 deficit to defeat South Africa 20-18 in the semi-finals on Saturday.

The All Blacks, in comparison, had a scare in their tournament opener against the Pumas, before breezing through their next three games. That is 32% of ALL of New Zealand’s Test wins.

“I’m predicting an All Black win but it’s not going to be easy”, he said.

A titanic battle is guaranteed for the 80,000-plus crowd who will witness the first final between two sides that have dominated rugby’s showpiece event since it started in 1987.

Fans who want to watch the 2015 Rugby World Cup live online can go to the Foxtel Go or Foxtel Play apps.

Another All Black, captain Richie McCaw, is also set to end his global career after a world record 148th test.

“If the conditions are OK I think we’ll see a few running rugby but whether that results in tries comes down to the defence”.

Why? The lessons of the 2011 final will do the All Blacks no harm.

Mitchell marks Nehe Milner-Skudder, a first year All Black who is one of three finalists for the “breakthrough player of the year” award.

“We realise we need to be on the job and limit their influence as much as possible and hopefully our back row can impose themselves”, McCaw said.

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“Because of that, I think they probably still remain favourites but Michael Cheika has done a wonderful job with Australia in a short space of time but I think they are coming from behind in the race”.

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA- OCTOBER 30 The Sydney Opera House is illuminated in Green & Gold ahead of the Rugby World Cup final