THE best Rugby World Cup competition to date was fittingly rewarded with the best final to date - and it was won by a team now widely regarded as the greatest ever to play the game. This was an imperious performance by the All Blacks, orchestrated with an icy majesty by Dan Carter, whose 19 points included a vital drop goal after the Wallabies had fought their way back into the match.

New Zealand were the first team to win the Webb Ellis Cup, back in 1987. They have now become the first to win it for a third time, as well as the first to retain the trophy. The only consolation for the other countries currently left trailing in their wake is that several of their key players, including Carter and most probably captain Richie McCaw, will now retire from Test rugby.

Australia were certainly trailing for much of the game, and when they went 21-3 down just two minutes into the second half the match threatened to become a one-sided procession. They had the sinbinning of Ben Smith to thank in part for their recovery from that perilous position, and when they closed the gap to 21-17 with quarter of an hour remaining they briefly threatened to pull off a stunning comeback.

But Carter steadied his team with that drop goal, then added a fifth penalty before substitute Beauden Barrett’s late try wrapped it up.

The All Blacks profited from one or two generous decisions by Nigel Owens, and one of Carter’s penalties was awarded seconds after the referee disregarded a forward pass. But there was no denying that they deserved to win, and the Wallabies coach Michael Cheika made no complaints about the outcome.

“We have a no-excuse mentality,” he said. “New Zealand won the game fair and square.

“Obviously it’s painful to lose. I thought we stayed in the battle till the end, and I think we’ve made good ground over the past 12 months. We’re just starting out.”

Australia have made remarkable progress in that year since Cheika took over, and All Blacks coach Steve Hansen insisted on praising them before taking any questions at the post-match press conference. “Australia were magnificent in the way they approached the game,” he said. “From 21-3 they came back into it, and at 21-17 they could easily have won the game. Whilst we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved, as a group we’d like to say well done to Australia as well.”

McCaw refused to confirm his retirement after the match, but no matter what he does now, his place in All Blacks history is secure. Asked to evaluate his current team and its two biggest players, Hansen refused to say it was the best All Blacks side to have worn the jersey, but was more than happy to praise his captain and playmaker.

“I think Richie’s the greatest All Black we’ve ever had, and Dan’s a close second. The only thing that probably separates them is one’s a flanker, and you shouldn’t play 148 Test matches as a flanker. That’s unheard of. You put your body on the line every time you play there.”

Although the Wallabies enjoyed that second-half spell in the ascendancy, the All Blacks began and ended the match as the sharper side. Carter and Bernard Foley exchanged early penalties, and then two more three-pointers from the New Zealand No 10 put his team 9-3 up.

As the interval loomed, the All Blacks might have been tempted to hold on to that six-point lead, but instead they went back on the attack and got their reward with the first try of the contest. A powerful surge through the middle produced the chance of an overlap on the right, and some superlative handling from McCaw, Ben Smith and Conrad Smith ended with winger Nehe Milner-Skudder skipping over the line. Carter’s conversion ended the half, giving his team a daunting 16-3 lead.

Sonny Bill Williams came on for Conrad Smith at the start of the second half, and within two minutes the substitute had played a crucial role in putting the All Blacks further ahead. He offloaded to Ma’a Nonu as three defenders closed in, and the centre - another who will now retire - eased through the slightest gap in midfield then ran 50 metres. Drew Mitchell caught up with him close to the try line, but his impetus carried the big centre over.

Australia fought back gamely, and were given some grounds for optimism when Ben Smith was yellow-carded for a tip tackle on Mitchell close to the line. They took the lineout from the penalty then drove for the line, David Pocock was awarded the touchdown after the maul went over, and Foley’s conversion made it 21-10. That soon became 21-17 with their second converted try, as Tevita Kuridrani latched on to a kick ahead from Will Genia and ploughed his way over.

With quarter of an hour to go the match was back in the balance, but then came Carter’s drop goal from 35 metres out, to be followed by a penalty from close to halfway. Barrett’s try from a chip and chase, converted by Carter, added just a little more gloss to what was already a convincing victory.

NEW ZEALAND: Tries: Milner-Skudder, Nonu, Barrett. Cons: Carter 2. Pens: Carter 4. Drop goal: Carter.

AUSTRALIA: Tries: Pocock, Kuridrani. Cons: Foley 2. Pen: Foley.

New Zealand: B Smith; N Milner-Skudder (B Barrett 65), C Smith (S Williams 41), M Nonu, J Savea; D Carter, A Smith (T Kerr-Barlow 71); J Moody (B Franks 59), D Coles (K Mealamu 65), O Franks (C Faumuina 55), B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino (V Vito 71), R McCaw (S Kane 80), K Read.

Australia: I Folau; A Ashley-Cooper, T Kuridrani, M Giteau (K Beale 28), D Mitchell; B Foley, W Genia (N Phipps 70); S Sio (J Slipper 59), S Moore (T Polota-Nau 56), S Kepu (G Holmes 59), K Douglas (D Mumm 15), R Simmons, S Fardy (B McCalman 61), M Hooper, D Pocock. Head injury assessment replacement: M Toomua for Mitchell, 66-71.

Referee: N Owens (Wales). Attendance: 80,125.