New Zealand

Steve Hansen has reaffirmed his expectation that his tenure as New Zealand head coach to end will end when his contract expires in 2017.

Dan Carter admitted his man-of-the-match performance that helped the All Blacks to a historic World Cup triumph over Australia in the 2015 World Cup final was the perfect way to bow out of a glittering international career.

Sonny Bill Williams presented his World Cup winner's medal to a fan tackled by security guards when trying to celebrate with the All Blacks.

New Zealand made sporting history at Twickenham as they became the first team to be crowned Rugby World Cup winners for a second successive time.

Australia have committed a major blunder on the eve of their World Cup final showdown with New Zealand on Saturday by accidentally revealing elements of their game-plan for usurping the current world champions.

On Saturday evening, 44 days of drama, trials and tribulations will be over after the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham.

Rugby World Cup finals are close affairs. Never one by more than a few points and always go down to wire. Every battle across the pitch is key, but this weekend the battle of the back row will be where the match is won and lost.

It is widely expected that Richie McCaw will retire after Saturday's World Cup final against Australia, and yet New Zealand's decorated captain is still refusing make an announcement.

Five All Blacks stalwarts can end their Test careers by cementing New Zealand's class of 2015 as rugby's greatest ever with World Cup glory.

New Zealand great Jonah Lomu fears David Pocock and Michael Hooper will give Australia a critical edge at the breakdown in Saturday's World Cup final.

Former New Zealand international and the leading Rugby World Cup try-scorer Jonah Lomu expects next week's final between the All Blacks and Australia to be a "humdinger".

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw will be available for Saturday's World Cup final after World Rugby declined to cite the influential flanker for his collision with South Africa's Francois Louw during last Saturday's semi-final.

Australia boss Michael Cheika had few qualms branding his Wallabies the underdogs for Saturday's World Cup final against defending champions New Zealand.

World Rugby has announced the shortlist for the inaugural Breakthrough Player of the Year 2015 award, with the winner set to be revealed at the World Rugby Awards dinner at Battersea Evolution, London, on 1 November.

It might not have the ancient animosities that are infused into every fibre of the northern hemisphere grudge matches, but it has become without doubt the biggest rivalry in rugby.

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has vigorously defended All Blacks captain Richie McCaw after video footage emerged of him apparently striking South Africa flanker Francois Louw during Saturday's World Cup semi-final at Twickenham.

Dan Carter has warned that the job is "not done yet" after ensuring his last game for New Zealand will be a first World Cup final appearance.

New Zealand booked their place in a second successive World Cup final by holding off South Africa to win a pulsating semi-final 20-18 at Twickenham.

Victor Matfield insists he can complete the job that dragged him out of retirement and drive South Africa to an unprecedented third World Cup triumph.

New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen has no doubt that South Africa will want to "rip our heads off" in Saturday's heavyweight World Cup semi-final clash at Twickenham.