Classy Carter guides All Blacks to historic Rugby World Cup title
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Classy Carter guides All Blacks to historic Rugby World Cup title
New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter was the man of the hour as the All Blacks became the first team to claim back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles, beating Australia 34-17 at Twickenham on Saturday. Carter slotted a key long-range drop goal and 50 meter penalty in a 19-point haul to help seal the win against old rivals Australia, and claimed the man of the match award in his last outing in an All Blacks shirt.
He is one of the great players and for him to come out and show all his skills tonight…it is pretty special. It’s a great way to finish. You couldn’t script it any better.
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen
Carter’s man of the match performance more than made up for his missing out on the victory on home soil in 2011 because of an injury suffered during that tournament. New Zealand became the first team to win the trophy three times, although they had to withstand a ferocious fightback from 21-3 down by their Australian rivals. Carter, the game’s great playmaker and leading points scorer in test rugby, will lead a post-World Cup exodus of five senior players, and in all probability six if captain Richie McCaw decides to retire, that will hit the All Blacks hard.
It is all about New Zealand, they thoroughly deserve the win they were best team all tournament. Sometimes you come up against a better team and that was us tonight.
Australia captain Stephen Moore