The 56-year-old guided the All Blacks to World Cup glory on Saturday, as they became the first team in the tournament’s history to successfully defend their title.
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His dreams of bowing out from Test rugby a World Cup-winner this time were in danger as New Zealand, who had been cruising at 21-3 up early in the second half, saw Australia cut their lead to 21-17 by capitalising on the sin-binning of All Blacks full-back Ben Smith to score two converted tries.
Carter slotted a key long-range drop goal and 50 meter penalty in a 19-point haul to help seal the win against old rival Australia, and claimed the Man of the Match award in his last outing in an All Blacks shirt.
Carter was named man-of-the-match for his 19-point effort, a fitting swansong for one of the game’s finest flyhalves who was sidelined by injury when his team mates edged France to win the 2011 final on home soil. “We came home strong which has been the mark of this team for the past four years”, McCaw said of the dramatic win.
“But while I was offered a contract to go through to 2019, I didn’t take it because I didn’t think it was right for the team”. “So we were right there back in the hunt in the second half”.
Although a core group of six players boasting over 700 caps between them are retiring – or in captain Richie McCaw’s case – expected to be retiring, New Zealand’s strength in depth means they are unlikely to suffer any sort of major dip.
“I’m pretty grateful to be where I am considering what happened four years ago”, Carter said.
“They’ve got an excellent coach and coaching team and they’re getting better”, he said.
“To win one World Cup is unbelievable but to win back-to-back tournaments is off the scale and I can only congratulate everybody in the New Zealand party from coach Steve Hansen downwards”, Woodward wrote. He touched down at the end of a storming 40 metre run after a brilliant pass from replacement Sonny Bill Williams.
This time, Australia was foiled by an audacious drop goal from 42 yards, rather than a penalty kick, from the game’s greatest-ever worldwide points-scorer. Tevita Kuridrani also went across and with the conversions Australia were within four points at 21-17. “I don’t want to sound like a big head there but the All Blacks have been a good team for a long time, so when I came I wanted to make them better”.
Neville Carter said the day after the successful world cup final was “surreal”.
New Zealand’s Kendra Cocksedge was named women’s player of the year, and the sevens players awards were given to South Africa’s Werner Kok, and New Zealand’s Portia Woodman.
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Australia kicked off but were nearly immediately forced back into their own half when Nonu stepped around Sekope Kepu to get the All Blacks up to the Wallaby line.
