History made as New Zealand win Rugby World Cup 2015

New Zealand stunned Australia 34-17 to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup in a thrilling final played on Saturday at at Twickenham in the United Kingdom.
The win places All Blacks in the history books as the first team to retain the Rugby World Cup.
Tries by Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma’a Nonu gave New Zealand a 21-3 lead before David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani came through for Australia.
All Black’s Dan Carter landed a long-distance drop-goal in the 70th minute to stretch the lead to 24-17 and went ahead to convert a penalty four minutes later to make the score 27-17. Beauden Barrett scored from Ben Smith’s clearing kick in the last minutes to finish the game at 34-17.
New Zealand are now the first Rugby World Cup three-time champions.
On Friday, Springboks finished their campaign at the 2015 Rugby World Cup on a high note after overcoming Argentina in a tightly contested third-place playoff at the Olympic stadium in London on Friday.
Tries by JP Pietersen and Handre Pollards gave South Africa a 16-0 lead going to the break before Nicolas Sanchez got the Pumas on the scoreboard.
However there was a moment of disappointment for the Boks after Brayn Habana failed to claim the all-time Rugby World Cup try scoring record.
The 32-year-old winger came close to entering the record books but was denied the glory by the heroics of Argentine full back Lucas Gonzalez. He therefore shares the current position with New Zealand Star Jonah Lomu.
After their disappointing loss to All Blacks last week the Springboks played a clinical game against an well-oiled Argentine side that has received overwhelming praise during the world cup campaign.
This win ensured that South Africa go home with the Bronze medal.
South Africa which is deemed as the best Rugby 15s team in Africa were stunned by a little-decorated Japan team in their opening match of the World Cup campaign last month, though they recollected and managed to enter quarter finals.
They may have ended third in the World Cup, but the disappointment of losing against Japan and the All Blacks in the quarter finals will continue to haunt Springboks.
Argentina who looked to repeat their fete of 2007 and finish third made nine changes as a result of injuries and exhaustion and were no match for the physical South African side.
Their attempts to breach the South African try-line were thwarted severally leaving them with just a superior ball possession in the last 20 minutes of the game.
Springboks flanker Schalk Burger, captain for the day Victor Matfield and Habana, all world champions in 2007, were substituted in the second half to a standing ovation from the more than 55,000 people in attendance.
By Iqbal Issack
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