Rugby World Cup 2015 Final: New Zealand v Australia

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 FINAL: NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA

There are only two more matches to go in the epic Rugby World Cup 2015 England tournament – the final to determine the winner of the Webb Ellis Cup and the honor of being named Rugby Kings of the World; and the Third Place Match. Great Rugby World Cup tickets are still available for both games!

Buy South Africa v Argentina tickets for the Third Place Match on Friday 30 October. 20:00 GMT kick-off at the Olympic Stadium.

Buy New Zealand v Australia tickets for the Rugby World Cup 2015 Final on Saturday 31 October. 16:00 GMT kick-off at Twickenham

Authentic, legal, South Africa rugby tickets, Argentina rugby tickets, New Zealand rugby tickets, and Australia rugby tickets can be purchased quickly, easily, and safely now online at LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk and quickly sent to your hotel, office or home by our partners Royal Mail or FedEx.

Here are some details of the RWC 2015 matches leading to the final clash.

SOUTH AFRICA 18 – 20 NEW ZEALAND

Current RWC Champions, New Zealand, have high hopes of being the very first team to retain the Webb Ellis trophy. The All Blacks defeated South Africa at Twickenham Stadium in front of 80,090 supporters to earn a spot in their fourth Rugby World Cup final to be contested next Saturday against Australia. The reigning champs were five points behind at half time, but turned the match around in their favor only 20 minutes after half-time even though Kaino was off the pitch in the sin bin. Jerome Kaino’s early try gave the All Blacks the lead but was cancelled out by Handre Pollard’s early penalty. The All Blacks went ahead after a Dan Carter drop goal and a Beauden Barrett try. Then South Africa responded with two penalties and Springbok wing Bryan Habana went into the sin bin. However a Carter try secured the win against the Springboks in a desperate, brutal, physical encounter in pouring rain. Jerome Garces (France) was the referee.

Dan Carter has overtaken Grant Fox as New Zealand's all-time leading World Cup points scorer with 172.

Man of the match is No. 11, Ma’a Nonu, who had 11 carries and the second most meters at 51.

New Zealand Manager Steve Hansen remarked his team's composure after the game, "It was always going to be close, they're a great side and they showed that again. I was really proud of our guys, they kept their composure.

Hansen continued, "We just needed to come out for the second half and start taking the game to them rather than waiting for them to take it to us. We talked about it at half-time. We talked about keeping composure and talked about winning the first 10 minutes."

South Africa Manager Heyneke Meyer said in a post-match interview, "Our discipline in the second half was just not good enough. They coped better with the weather in the second half. Discipline was the most important thing, especially in these rainy conditions.

Said Meyer, "We wanted to make our country proud but we didn't. We should have pulled this win through, but all credit to the All Blacks, they are a quality side."

SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD

Coach Heyneke Meyer

Le Roux; Pietersen, Kriel, de Allende, Habana; Pollard, du Preez; Mtawarira, B. du Plessis, Malherbe; Etzebeth, de Jager; Louw, Burger, Vermeulen

Subs: Serfontein for de Allende (80), Lambie for Pollard (66), Nyakane for Mtawarira (53), Strauss for B. du Plessis (53), J. du Plessis for Malherbe (60), Matfield for de Jager (60), Alberts for Burger (64)

Unused: Pienaar

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD

Coach Steve Hansen

B. Smith; Milner-Skudder, C. Smith, Nonu, Savea; Carter, A. Smith; Moody, Coles, O. Franks; Retallick, Whitelock; Kaino, McCaw, Read

Subs: Barrett for Milner-Skudder (49), Williams for Nonu (53), B. Franks for Moody (69), Mealamu for Coles (67), Faumuina for O. Franks (53), Cane for Kaino (67)

Unused: Vito, Kerr-Barlow

ARGENTINA 15 – 29 AUSTRALIA

Australia will play New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup 2015 Final – both sides going for a third RWC victory after having won the Webb Ellis Cup twice before each.

The Wallabies defeated Argentina 29-15 on Saturday in front of 80,025 fans to earn their spot in the final with trys by Simmons, Ashley-Cooper (3); Conversions by Foley (3); and a penalty by Foley. Nicolas Sanchez had 5 penalties for Argentina. Referee was Wayne Barnes (RFU).

A three-try first-half included two from Adam Ashley-Cooper as Australia went into a 13-point lead. Argentina trailed by seven points with 26 minutes to go and the heavy pressure was on both teams. Adam Ashley-Cooper’s hat-trick of tries secured the win for Australia. Ashley-Cooper’s hat-trick is only the second in a RWC Semi-Final after Jonah Lomu.

Bernard Foley's nine points were critical in stopping the Puma charge.

Lavanini was controversially yellow-carded for tackling Folau without using his arms.

Down with injuries were Captain Agustin Creevy, winger Juan Imhoff and Hernandez.

Outstanding Wallaby player, number eight David Pocock, earned 4 turnovers and made 13 carries - the most in the Australia side.

Man of the match Pocock was named player of the tournament for his phenomenal performance.

ARGENTINA SQUAD

Tuculet; Cordero, Bosch, J Hernandez, Imhoff; Sanchez, Landajo; Ayerza, Creevy, Herrera; Petti Pagadizabal, Lavanini; Matera, Fernandez Lobbe, Senatore.

Subs: Amorosino for Imhoff (19) De la Fuente for J Hernandez (44), Cubelli for Landajo (56), Figallo for Herrera (61), Alemanno for Petti Pagadizabal (58), Noguera for Matera (64), Isa for Senatore (49).

Unused: Montoya.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Folau; Ashley-Cooper, Kuridrani, Giteau, Mitchell; Foley, Genia; Slipper, Moore, Kepu; Douglas, Simmons; Fardy, Hooper, Pocock.

Subs: Toomua for Folau (64), Beale for Giteau (47), Phipps for Genia (67), Smith for Slipper (53), Polota-Nau for Moore (60), Holmes for Kepu (53), Mumm for Simmons (67), McCalman for Fardy (56).