TRY! NEW ZEALAND 5-0 Australia Ma'a Nonu crosses in the corner after a brilliant break from Israel Dagg. It came from an All Blacks line-out, Cruden fed Dagg who broke through three tackles before a one-handed offload to Nonu who had a simple task. Piri Weepu can't make the conversion but what a start from the home side. Where are the nerves?
3 min: Cory Jane kicks ahead. James O'Connor slides on the ball, carries it over the line and then tries to run it safety under the most intense pressure. he eventually sees sense and drops to the ground and concedes the five metre scrum. Good defence from Australia as they force the turnover and Cooper boots clear. "Am I the only person who finds that the Haka makes them embarrassed to be a rugby fan?" asks Dan Lucas. "Surely some of them must be standing there thinking "this is bollocks"?"
2 min: What a start from the All Blacks. First Dagg goes on the charge and then Cruden and Nonu combine on the left. The ball is worked to the right but a looped pass is too ambitious for Cory Jane and sails into touch.
Peep! Craig Joubert blows his whistle and Cooper's drop kick-off sails straight into touch. You don't need me to say the crows liked that. New Zealand have the put-in and Weepu drives a lovely kick into touch near the Australia line
The Australians stand impassively as Piri Weepu through a deliberate and considered haka. Meanwhile Katie Little disagrees with Andy Bradshaw: " I think it has been a great World Cup," she writes. "Some excellent close games, even among some of the nations that you wouldn't expect, great fan support, NZ fans being friendly and generous; getting behind other nations and welcoming all teams. The few IRB related problems shouldn't detract from what NZ have achieved, and a tournament that most people have thoroughly enjoyed."
God Defend New Zealand. A tear-inducing rendition. Like Auld Lang Syne at the end of It's a Wonderful Life. Now the haka ...
Advance Australia Fair. Passionately belted out though they may have renamed it 'Advance Australia by Any Means Necessary' for this game.
The teams walk out to a raucous Eden Park. Nerves have clearly given way to hysteria in the crowd. "The stakes have never been higher between these two," claim ITV of the third semi-final they have contested. Now the anthems ...
New Zealand: 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Keven Mealamu, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Sam Whitelock, 5. Brad Thorn, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Richie McCaw (capt), 8. Kieran Read, 9. Piri Weepu, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Richard Kahui, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 13. Conrad Smith, 14. Cory Jane, 15. Israel Dagg.
Reserves: 16. Andrew Hore, 17. Ben Franks, 18. Ali Williams, 19. Victor Vito, 20. Andy Ellis, 21. Stephen Donald, 22. Sonny Bill Williams.
Australia: 1. Sekope Kepu, 2. Stephen Moore, 3. Ben Alexander, 4. Daniel Vickerman, 5. James Horwill (capt), 6. Rocky Elsom, 7. David Pocock, 8. Radike Samo, 9. Will Genia, 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Digby Ioane, 12. Pat McCabe, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper or Anthony Fainga'a, 14. James O'Connor, 15. Kurtley Beale or Ashley-Cooper.
Reserves: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. James Slipper, 18. Rob Simmons, 19. Ben McCalman, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. Fainga'a or Rob Horne.
