On this day in 2015: All Blacks win the World Cup

The All Blacks made rugby history on this day in 2015 when they sealed a 34-17 triumph over the Wallabies to win the Rugby World Cup for the second time in a row.

The result was a significant one as it also meant New Zealand became the first country lift the Webb Ellis Trophy on three occasions after their previous victories on home soil in 1987 and 2011.

Australian fightback

The All Blacks dominated the 2015 final, leading 16-3 at half-time and continued to hold the upper hand after the interval but the Wallabies launched a fightback to narrow the gap.

Steve Hansen’s charges kept their cool, however, and Dan Carter extended their lead courtesy of a drop goal and a penalty before sealed his side’s win and their place in the history books with a late try.

Both southern hemisphere nations had to survive tight knock-out matches to reach the showpiece event with Australia edging out Scotland 35-34 following a Twickenham thriller in the quarter-finals, while New Zealand narrowly battled past South Africa in the semi-finals by a two-point margin.

Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma’a Nonu tries either side of half-time put the All Blacks in control during the final, after the opening 40 had contained some huge hits mixed in with flair and skill.

Australia mounted a terrific response when David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani crossed over but Carter showed his class with some flawless kicking before replacement Barrett sprinted away onto Ben Smith’s kick to confirm New Zealand’s win.

Captain Richie McCaw retired a month later to bow out of union’s top table, having at the time played a world-record 148 Tests, winning 131 of them.

All Blacks’ Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Julian Savea and Carter were named in the 2015 World Cup dream team after the tournament had concluded.

Savea’s tally of eight tries equalled the most in a single World Cup, which was also matched by compatriot Jonah Lomu and South African Bryan Habana.