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Cape Town - New Zealand became the first side to ever win back-to-back World Cups when they beat Australia 34-17 in Saturday's Rugby World Cup final.
The Wallabies had fought back superbly after an All Black masterclass saw them go into the half time break 16-3 down.
There were a few big hits early on from both sides, but the All Blacks immediately looked the side most dangerous with ball in hand.
They drew first blood in the 8th minute through a Daniel Carter penalty from the left hand touchline, but a scrum infringement from Owen Franks a few minutes later saw Bernard Foley level matters.
New Zealand continued to threaten, but some phenomenal work on the ground from David Pocock, Scott Fardy and Michael Hooper kept them in the game.
A late tackle from Sekope Kepu on Carter on 20 minutes allowed the All Blacks to set up another lineout 10m out from the Wallaby line, but again the Australian loose forwards saved the day.
A second tackle from Kepu on Carter, this time high, allowed the All Blacks to go back into the lead while Matt Giteau (head knock) was replaced by Kurtley Beale.
The All Blacks received a touch of fortune on 35 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after what appeared a clear forward pass from Nehe Milner-Skudder, but Carter obliged to give his side a 9-3 lead.
And then, on the stroke of half time, the game looked like it was put to bed.
A build-up of phases from the All Blacks saw them displaying execution of the highest order before the ball was moved wide via Ben Smith and Richie McCaw to Milner-Skudder, who dived over in the corner.
Carter's conversion from the touchline meant that the All Blacks would take a 16-3 lead into the break, and the Wallabies had it all to do.
Any chance that Michael Chieka's men had of staging a miraculous comeback appeared dashed just two minutes after the restart.
Good work from substitute Sonny Bill Williams put Ma'a Nonu through, and the veteran made no mistake slicing the Wallaby defence wide open.
Carter missed the conversion, but the damage was done as the All Blacks led 21-3.
The Wallabies were then given a boost when New Zealand fullback Ben Smith was sin-binned for a tip tackle.
They made it count, and the rolling maul from the resulting lineout saw Pocock dot down and it was 'game on' once more with Foley's conversion making it 21-10
The numerical advantage would hurt the All Blacks further.
Just before Ben Smith's return the Wallabies scored again, this time in spectacular fashion as Will Genia's kick over the top was gathered by Adam Ashley-Cooper, who offloaded for Tevita Kuridrani.
Foley converted, and all of a sudden it was 21-17.
A Carter drop goal then set up the final 10 minutes with the score at 24-17 to the All Blacks, and it was all getting a bit tense.
But the All Black flyhalf would have the final say, and under immense pressure in the 75th minute he slotted his longest kick of the day to give his side some breathing room at 27-17.
Substitute Beauden Barrett put the icing on the cake in final stages, gathering a Ben Smith stab through before showing his pace and scoring under the posts.
Scorers
New Zealand 34 (16)
Tries: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ma'a Nonu, Beauden Barrett
Conversions: Dan Carter (2)
Penalties: Carter (4)
Drop goal: Carter
Australia 17 (3)
Tries: David Pocock, Tevita Kuridrani
Conversions: Bernard Foley (2)
Penalties: Foley
