New Zealand were crowned world champions for the first time in 24 years after squeezing past an inspired France team by a single point. Tony Woodcock’s early try and a penalty from fourth-choice fly-half Stephen Donald were enough to see the All Blacks home in an extraordinary match that defied all pre-match predictions. France produced…

Richie McCaw and New Zealand made history as the first nation to claim back-to-back World Cups but they had to do it the hard way against Australia in an epic final. The All Blacks raced into a 21-3 lead with tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder and Ma’a Nonu but they then had to hold off a…