NEW ZEALAND cemented its status as the greatest team in rugby history when the side overwhelmed Australia 34-17 at Twickenham on Saturday to become world champion for a record third time, and the first nation to retain the Webb Ellis Cup.

    Tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma’a Nonu had the All Blacks cruising 21-3 early in the second half before Ben Smith’s yellow card opened the door for Australia, which got back to within four points with tries by David Pocock and Tuvita Kuridrani.

    But flyhalf Dan Carter, who missed most of the 2011 tournament through injury and is retiring from international rugby after Saturday’s match, stepped up with an exquisite drop goal and a 50-meter penalty to put the result beyond doubt.

    Replacement wing Beauden Barrett applied the black icing to the Kiwi World Cup cake with a late try, which Carter converted to take his personal tally to 19 points.

    New Zealand has lost just three times in 54 matches since its triumph on home soil four years ago.

    The previous six World Cup finals had produced seven tries between them and Saturday’s total of five was a record, eclipsing the four of the inaugural final when New Zealand beat France.(SD-Agencies)