Ma'a Nonu 8
Operated in bursts, but what bursts they were. The best of all was an amazing angled run off SBW pass for one of the great World Cup tries. Once again he was pivotal.
Julian Savea 6
Physical first half, including memorable dispensing of Ashely-Cooper. But disappeared from view - a game that didn't go his way in the end.
Dan Carter 8
The old Carter would have run Australia ragged behind a winning pack. A bit static, missed Kuridrani on his try run, and the odd blooper. But his near faultless goalkicking kept the scoreboard moving and he did enough to make the most of the advantages including lovely drop goal and decent defence.
Aaron Smith 7
Some poor kicks marred a typically sharp game. Ultimately, he did enough to steer the All Blacks in the right direction without hitting top gear or running much.
Kieran Read 6
Staggering how often he was involved in losing possession one way or another - five times by my count. Worked hard but just not the Read of old.
Richie McCaw 10
Partly an emotional mark, but his amazing influence over time is immeasurable. Amazing how often he turned up in the right places in this game, including linking for the Milner-Skudder try. Will he retire? If so, deserves to go out on a perfect score.
Jerome Kaino 9
Strictly speaking, my man of the match. His physical impact - starting with big tackle on Folau - was colossal. This is where the All Blacks had it all over the Wallabies. A comparison with the admirable Fardy tells the story - the Aussie No. 6 can play some, but Kaino is fearsome. Safe lineouts as well.
Brodie Retallick 8
Another whose physical impact is so telling and damaging. Just ask Giteau. The numbers don't always tell the story with a player like Retallick. Also grabbed a few turnovers.
Sam Whitelock 8
Started brilliantly in the air, receiving and chasing kickoffs. Lots of wonderful tackling from a man who found form at the right time, complementing Retallick's more brutal game.
Owen Franks 6
One awesome All Black scrum will never be forgotten, but not a particularly prominent game around the field.
Dane Coles 8
Deserves a big tick on lineouts alone. This was a key advantage area. A couple of excellent runs and plenty of defence.
Joe Moody 6
Errors counted against him but the World Cup latecomer showed up with agile defence including excellent diving tackle on Foley, and tried to get on the front foot with a couple of runs.
Reserves
Keven Mealamu (Coles, 64m) 6
The Cameo Kid in his final days, and he did it well here.
Ben Franks (Moody, 58m) 5
A bonus appearance. Does a job, but awkward by modern front row standards.
Charlie Faumuina (O. Franks, 54m) 6
More a defender than ball runner this time.
Victor Vito (Kaino, 70m) 5
Still gives the impression of falling between a few stools - are the selectors really convinced?
Sam Cane (McCaw, 79m)
The ultimate token gesture.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (A. Smith, 70m) 5
Not much here, but can look back on his return from injury with satisfaction.
Beauden Barrett (Milner-Skudder, 64) 7
Took responsibility then added the final touch with typical opportunist try.
Sonny Bill Williams (C. Smith, 40m) 7
Blistering start with offloads which led to the great Nonu try. A bit flat after that.
Wallabies
Israel Folau 7
Glass half full or empty. On the face of it, an okay game. But an underpowered Australia needed so much more from their super-athlete fullback.
Adam Ashley-Cooper 4
Considering his size and experience, a huge disappointment. The Wallaby forwards needed help in getting on the front foot, and Ashley-Cooper went AWOL.
Tevita Kuridrani 6
Try run aside, he looked outclassed on attack, and spilled the ball on a run from a lineout. Defended with some gusto but Aussie needed much more form their bigger backs.
Matt Giteau 5
Little backs behind outmatched forwards is not a great recipe. The playmaker's brave 26th minute tackle on Retallick ended his match.
Drew Mitchell 6
Top marks for effort, but not for effect. Mistakes marred his match, including lost ball for Barrett's late try. But at least he tried.
Bernard Foley 6
Comes across as the ultimate pro, but Australia needed a dazzler at No. 10 to get into this final. All his kicks need more distance.
Will Genia 6
Two mistakes in first two minutes. Silly penalty conceded important third goal to Carter. Nice read and kick to create Kuridrani try. Not enough spark.
David Pocock 7
Hauled himself into another battle - tried so hard in every area and won a couple of turnovers. But couldn't engineer a miracle. Forlorn chase of Barrett summed up the match.
Scott Fardy 5
Clever at times but even lacked his usual industry.
Michael Hooper 6
Too much the ambulance at the bottom of a cliff and he missed a few tackles. Some impressive work, and outstanding steal - with Pocock - on defence. Trinkets really, as the All Blacks steamrolled towards the silverware.
Rob Simmons 5
This is the heart of Australia's never ending problems against the All Blacks - a lack of raw boned power and energy in the engine room. Conceding a technical lineout penalty on attack didn't help either.
Kane Douglas 4
The big lock crashed out of the game after 15 minutes, and any Australian hopes probably wandered off with him.
Sekope Kepu 5
An amazing athlete for a tighthead prop but not enough influence, and should have been yellow carded for second illegal tackle on Carter.
Stephen Moore 4
The brave captain fluffed his lineout lines, looked tired, may have tripped Aaron Smith, and lacked the usual inspiration.
Scott Sio 5
A huge prospect but injury-hampered probably and will have plenty of much better days.
Reserves
Tatafu Polata-Nau (Moore, 54m) 6
Has shown a bit of life of late but not enough to turn this around and didn't fix the lineout.
James Slipper (Sio, 58m) 5
Lack of impact.
Greg Holmes (Kepu, 58m) 5
Ditto Slipper.
Dean Mumm (Douglas, 15m) 6
Put a huge effort in on defence, but needed more offence. Knock on was the nail in his side's coffin.
Ben McCalman (Fardy, 59m) 4
No grunt or impact, which summed up the problem.
Nick Phipps (Genia, 69m) 4
Very active but ineffective.
Matt Toomua (Mitchell, 65 - 70m) 4
Must be out of favour. Hard to spot while covering for Mitchell's concussion test.
Kurtley Beale (Giteau, 26m) 8
Okay, not perfect. But the one Wallaby who offered a challenge as a playmaker and runner even though the tide was against the little bloke.
