VIDEO: All Blacks blend sublime skill with steel

New Zealand 20 South Africa 18: Two legends of the game, one finally able to relish the chance to confirm his greatness on the biggest stage imaginable, the other facing an anxious wait over his ability to become the first two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain.

Savouring a first final appearance at the age of 33 in what he has promised to be his very last Test for New Zealand will be the sport’s greatest ever fly-half, Dan Carter. His 10 points with the boot included a momentum-shifting drop goal early in the second half of Twickenham’s first semi-final on Saturday that helped decide this absorbing clash of the titans.

Indications last night were that Richie McCaw will not be disciplined for a first-half incident involving South African Francois Louw. McCaw had a nervous wait yesterday as he sweated over a possible citing that could have left the All Blacks skipper on the sidelines for next Saturday’s final. McCaw caught Louw with his elbow as he passed his fellow flanker while running around the back of a 20th minute ruck.