It’s that time of the year, twenty nations have competed, 263 tries have been landed and 2,351 points have been scored. Out of all that action just two teams remain, the Wallabies and the All Blacks – two rugby giants.
On Saturday the crucial match takes place at the English home of rugby, Twickenham. At four o’clock in the afternoon (GMT) one of these giants will kick-off the final match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand are entering the match hoping to become the first ever nation to win back-to-back World Cups, they hope to do so in front of 80,000 spectators this weekend.
Australia have never played the All Blacks in the World Cup Final before, so there’s no statistics for us to examine in that sense.
New Zealand won the last Rugby World Cup in their home soil in 2011, since that victory the All Blacks have played fifty-three matches – losing only three. These amazing figures, along with their renowned prestige, makes reigning champions favourites to lift the Web Ellis Cup again this year.
The referee for this final is Welshman Nigel Owens, who was appointed as an international referee in 2005. The long-anticipated match will kick off early in the morning in Australia and New Zealand (between 00:00 and 05:00 local time).
Some of the All Blacks players have already spoke about the final, their captain Richie McCaw said that he doesn’t ‘really care how the game is as long as [he] wins.’
Michael Cheika, the Australia coach, only took over the Wallabies twelve months ago and is already preparing for a World Cup final. Cheika said ‘we don’t want to be proud just to make the final…we want to be proud of what we do on Saturday.’
Both remaining nations have won the prestigious trophy twice, meaning the winners this Saturday will become the first nation to win the World Cup three times.
The Springboks are the only other side to win it twice, leaving England with one win since the World Cup was introduced in 1987.
Over 154 games against each other, the All Blacks have acquired 105 wins compared to the Wallabies 42 wins – the teams have came across seven draws against each other.
Teams:
New Zealand:
Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.
Australia:
Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Scott Sio, Stephen Moore (captain), Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, David Pocock.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
