New Zealand vs Australia, The All Blacks vs The Wallabies, the 2015 Rugby World Cup final – could not have scripted a better one really, and what a finale this promises to be. Two bitter rivals, two southern hemisphere powerhouses, battling it out for the ultimate prize in rugby union.
New Zealand are, of course, the holders of the coveted title, and their nightmare coming into this tournament would have been relinquishing that hold to their trans-tasman rivals Australia. So, expect this Rugby World Cup final to be brutal and exciting, with plenty of desperation thrown in as well.
If that desperation will make the final tight and a little too tedious, as most finals have the inkling to be, only time will tell, even if All Blacks coach Steve Hansen hopes not.
"I think tradition's a great thing as long it doesn't get in the way of progress," Hansen said when asked if he expects a tight final. "Let's hope we get a bit of progress.
"You've got two sides who are like-minded, they want to play footy. The pressure will be on both teams, there's no doubt, but I don't think it will inhibit either one of them.
"Time and again it's been shown that the Australian team will play to their strengths and we'll play to ours and if the conditions are OK, we'll see some running rugby."
As far as New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, who is expected to retire after this final, is concerned, though, all that matters is the result.
"We've got a gameplan we want to play and it's about making space and trying to score tries," McCaw, looking to become the first captain to lift two World Cup titles as skipper, said.
"We wanted to do that four years ago in the final against France but it got tight and, when it's 50-50, everything went out the window.
"I don't care how the game is as long as we win."
Australia, under Michael Cheika, have played some outstanding rugby at this World Cup, and Hansen is expecting a really tough opponent come Halloween Saturday.
"They've had a few bumps and adversity, but what I think Australia have done in the last 12 months, they've really had a look at themselves and made some really good changes," Hansen added.
"They have got real clarity in how they want to play the game. Michael Cheika and his crew can take a bow -- they've done a great job.
"It's great for rugby. We need as many strong nations playing this game as possible, and Australia are one of the teams we'd expect to be strong all the time. They seem to have got their house in order, and are playing accordingly."
Teams: New Zealand: Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino; Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick; Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
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; David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
Live Streaming and TV Information (Where to Watch Live)
Get the Final result and report HERE
New Zealand vs Australia at Twickenham is set to begin at 4 pm GMT (9.30 pm IST, 12 pm ET, 5 am NZT, 3 am AEDT). The Rugby World Cup final will be broadcast live in India on Sony Six and Sony Six HD.
Sky Sport and Fox Sports are the places to be to catch the All Blacks vs Wallabies live in New Zealand and Australia respectively. The RWC final can also be watched via online live streaming on Sky Go NZ and Foxtel Play.
ITV1 will broadcast the game live in the UK, with the live stream option on ITV Player. The 2015 Rugby World Cup finale will be shown live in South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa on SuperSport, while the live stream option is on SuperSport Live Video.
Audience in the USA can watch the rugby World Cup game live on Universal Sports, while all the final action can be live streamed on Universal Sports Online. Viewers in Canada can watch the action live on TSN, with the live stream option on TSN TV.
