New Zealand All Blacks captain Richie McCaw after winning the Rugby World Cup Final. Photo / Brett Phibbs
We've done it.
They say there's no room for sentiment in professional sport, but the All Blacks wrote the final chapter in a fairytale for Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and the other retiring legends of a golden rugby generation.
McCaw raised the Webb Ellis Cup above his head to deafening cheers from adoring New Zealanders in the 80,125 sell-out crowd at Twickenham Stadium this morning.
In doing so, he was the first captain to lift rugby's ultimate trophy twice and the All Blacks became the first team to win back-to-back Rugby World Cup tournaments.
New Zealand is the first country to be etched three times on the gold plated silverware and McCaw's stated goal of adding to the legacy of the jersey is fulfilled after 148 magnificent tests.
But there were plenty of heroes wearing black jerseys in the 34-17 win over Australia.
Man of the match Dan Carter adroitly steered the team into all the right places on the park and his goal kicking kept the scoreboard pressure ticking over, including a crucial drop goal and penalty to keep the Wallabies at bay in the dying minutes.
Cruelly robbed by injury at the last tournament, the master first-five ticked the final box of his illustrious career. Sheer joy spread across his face when the final whistle blew.
The partnership of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith shut down the dangerous attack of the Wallabies, while also making damaging runs of their own. How we will miss them.
Everyone was talking about the combined talents of 'Pooper' - the impressive David Pocock and Michael Hooper - but the loose trio of Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino and McCaw reminded everyone of their class.
Under a clear blue sky, both sides were brutal from the first tackle. Read went down with an injured ankle in the fifth minute but hobbled on with a heavily strapped boot. Wallabies Kane Douglas and Matt Giteau both limped off in the first half, not to be seen again. But All Black fans around the world panicked when Carter went down in obvious pain after a late hit from Sekope Kepu. Would yet another World Cup end in disaster for the champion first five? He struggled to get up, only to cop another high shot from the prop soon after.
The vaunted Australian loose forward trio snaffled their fair share of ball at the breakdown, but were not to be outdone by McCaw and company. Carter kicked all his penalty attempts to lead 9-3 but the all-important psychological blow came on the stroke of halftime. Conrad Smith snaked through a half gap, the ball went through the hands of Aaron Smith and Richie McCaw before Nehe Milner-Skudder scored in the corner. Carter's sideline conversion was the icing on the cake. At 16-3 at halftime, the All Blacks had one hand on the cup.
Shortly after the break, the game seemed all but over. Sonny Bill Willams offloaded twice in the space of a few seconds to put Ma'a Nonu through a gap and he raced away to score. Carter failed to convert but it didn't matter at 21-3. The "All Blacks" chant rang around the home of English rugby. A yellow card was brandished at Ben Smith, who lifted the legs of Drew Mitchell in a dangerous tackle, and David Pocock scored from the subsequent lineout drive. Not long after, Tevita Kuridrani scored when Smith's absence at fullback was exposed. Momentum had swung; Australia were back in the game at 21-17.
Then, like he did last week against South Africa, Carter nailed a drop kick to put the All Blacks seven points clear with 10 minutes left. Space to breath again. Then a penalty kick almost on halfway to secure the Rugby World Cup. Like so many times before, it sailed through the goal posts. Beauden Barrett, has he does so often, provided the final nail in the coffin.
If the 2011 Rugby World Cup lifted a 24-year-old monkey off the back, then the 2015 edition was about cementing the All Blacks' position in history.
The nervousness of a nation was palpable in the week leading up to the final four years' ago and the claustrophobic pressure of playing the tournament on home soil affected the All Blacks. There was a physical dread at Eden Park, relief rather than elation when scoreboard read 8-7 when the final whistle blew.
Not this time. There's been a different feel in the All Blacks' camp this time round; an edge determined to get the job done, excitement rather than anxiety, to walk towards the pressure rather than be suffocated by it.
Back home, there was nervousness about the team's unconvincing form during the pool wins over Argentina (an eventual semi-finalist), Namibia, Georgia and Tonga.
Not within the team though: We should have trusted Steve Hansen when he said relax.
Any demons from Cardiff 2007 were well and truly exorcised by the 62-13 demolition of France in the quarter-final at the Millenium Stadium. It was shock and awe rugby from start to finish.
Bogey team dismissed, our greatest rivals South Africa were next. The 20-18 win over the Springboks in the rain at Twickenham was just as impressive, but for different reasons.
The results of big games often hinge on small moments and the All Blacks won them.
Down 7-12, with a man in the bin, Dan Carter nailed a drop goal to narrow the gap. It was a psychological dagger which swung the momentum of the game.
The stars aligned to set up the dream final with the team we love to hate. The All Blacks and the Wallabies had never met on the biggest stage and were clearly the two best teams in 2015.
Coach Michael Cheika has been widely lauded for turning around the culture - and the fortunes - of the Wallabies in just 12 months. Australia knocked out hosts England from the tournament and topped the Pool of Death with a heroic defensive effort against Wales.
Wins over Scotland and Argentina were arguably an easier run through the knock out phases, but the final was a step too far for Australia. The All Blacks would not be denied.
Then there was McCaw. If he dragged the All Blacks to victory in 2011 with a broken foot and by sheer force of will alone, then he was never going to finish second best in his last time wearing the black jersey. By Steve Hansen's estimation, the 34-year-old is New Zealand's greatest player - possibly the best to have ever played.
And he didn't do anything different in his final match.
As he's done time and again, McCaw cool and his calmness spread throughout the team when Australia were hammering at the line.
His legacy goes beyond an incredible winning record.
McCaw has changed the All Blacks in the professional age, raising the standards off and on the field to forge a culture where every player buys into the ethos of being a better man.
No New Zealander could stomach the thought of our greatest rugby warrior bowing out without a winner's medal. But there was more than relief this time - there was joy at being able to celebrate a special New Zealander and team. Arise, Sir Richie.
- Jared Savage at Twickenham
Former All Blacks' frustrations began before he coached his first All Blacks test.