FINAL REVIEW: NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA

So RWC 2015 comes down inevitably to the top two teams in the world, possibly the two best international squads there has ever been in the game. Certainly, Australia's backline is the best since the Welsh one of the 1970's, and New Zealand's backline comes very close. The prospect of Carter, Nonu, Smith and Savea against Giteau, Folau, Ashley-Cooper and Mitchell is mouth watering. The fact that Sonny Bill and Kurtley Beale are to come off the bench indicates the strength both teams have out wide.

But which team will win quick ball to unleash such weapons? Australia's set piece at scrum and lineout is greatly improved, and have the double threat of Pocock and Hooper at the breakdown. But any NZ pack with the experience of Whitelock, Coles, Read and Kaino will be a serious challenge, especially with Richie McCaw leading the charge. This guy has won 137/148 of his international games, a quite incredible statistic.

What a prospect!

To highlight the skills on show, one thing stood out for me in the New Zealand v South Africa semi-final - Brodie Retallick, the Kiwi second row received the ball in open play, attacked the space between two defenders and then threw a flat accurate pass 20m off his left hand to put a colleague in space through a gap - it's this skill level from 1 to 15 which every mini or youth player should watch during the final on Saturday to learn how to play the game properly.

Australia team: Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Scott Sio, Stephen Moore (captain), Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, David Pocock.

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.

New Zealand team: Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.