Carter scored 19 points in his final match as New Zealand held off a fierce Australia fightback to became the first team to retain the World Cup and the first to win three titles.
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“This was all about New Zealand”.
It extended their record World Cup winning run to 14 Tests, and means the Webb Ellis Cup will remain New Zealand’s property as they claimed a third world crown since the competition began 28 years ago.
“I’m not a big rugby historian but I’ve played against these guys a lot and every time you play them it’s tough”, Wallabies captain Stephen Moore said.
New Zealand’s golden generation had a final flourish, but with man-of-the-match Dan Carter and Richie McCaw heading a stellar group of five now set to walk away from the worldwide game.
Australia, too, will have significant turnover, with Matt Giteau, Will Genia and Sekope Kepu all likely having played their final games in gold.
As physical as it was, the game was calling out for a try, and on the stroke of half time it came through Milner-Skudder.
Sonny Bill Williams, who replaced Conrad Smith at half-time, produced two classy off-loads with his first touches.
McCaw, playing his 148th test, set up winger Nehe Milner-Skudder for New Zealand’s first try, Carter was unflappable throughout, and then there was Nonu with his electric, 40-meter break that brought the majority of the 80,125-strong full house to its feet.
His last-minute conversion following Beauden Barrett’s try, was cheekily knocked over using his right foot.
“The World Rugby Awards are a fitting finale to an exceptional year for rugby on and off the field”, Lapasset said.
It was then that Carter made his mark sending over a drop goal from 35 metres to make it 24-17 with 11 minutes to go.
Ben Smith returned and Carter launched his huge kick to steady the ship.
“We try to do things no other team has done before”, commented Carter.
But flyhalf Dan Carter, who missed most of the 2011 tournament through injury, stepped up with an exquisite drop goal and a 50-metre penalty to put the result beyond doubt.
“I don’t think people expected us to go as far in this tournament and if one or two decisions had been different we would have achieved something really special”, he said.
“I want this year’s team to leave next year’s team something to work with and so on”. I am going to enjoy today, and how could you get enough of this?
It also allowed a few of the greatest players to have ever kicked, passed, rucked and tackled one last moment in the spotlight.
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Michael Cheika was recognised as coach of the year after inheriting an Australia squad that was beset by disciplinary problems 12 months ago before turning them into World Cup runners-up.
