TWICKENHAM, London -- No one, absolutely no one, can begrudge New Zealand from confirming they are the world's greatest, most professional, most determined, most everything rugby country after the All Blacks became the first team to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup title.

And no one should also be overly critical of Australia failing at the last moment, as their World Cup campaign was exemplary, exceeding expectations, finishing off with an admirable fightback that had the desired effect of worrying the All Blacks.

Nonetheless, the right country is enjoying all the rugby riches at the moment.

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Not even their closest and often most vehement rivals, Australia, can complain about the end result because they were overwhelmed by a team that is simply on another level; the Wallabies knew they were the subject of a finals master class led by New Zealand's Professors of Rugby Daniel Carter and Richie McCaw.

Rugby is New Zealand's game, their domain, their religion, and the only surprise is that it has taken so long at World Cup level to convince all that they can be the world leaders for absolutely every week of every year, and from one tournament to the next.

And what a perfect way to farewell some of the game's most important and defining characters than striding merrily around Twickenham showing off the Webb Ellis Cup and boasting a winner's medal around their necks.

In what could easily be the farewell All Blacks appearance for rugby's Famous Five - Carter, McCaw, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu and Keven Mealamu - an appreciative rugby world was able to celebrate their feats in a special way, especially as all were heavily involved in their country's third World Cup triumph.

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Carter was the standout, able to overcome the distress of missing the 2011 World Cup finals through injury by being so authoritative during the final weeks of this tournament. If you thought his field goal against South Africa last weekend was something else, it was nothing compared to the calmness he showed as Australia produced a resolute second-half revival. With several Wallabies defenders virtually sitting in his lap, Carter someone wriggled himself into position to boot another dropped goal from about 40 metres, which, for the second week running, had the desired effect of putting the All Blacks back on track.

This followed a mind-numbing first half in which Australia basically couldn't get the ball off them. The Wallabies scrambled well for 38 minutes, again relying heavily on their exceptional defence to stay in the game; even though New Zealand enjoyed a 79% territorial gain and 71% possession advantage, Australia, who were not helped by losing the industrious lock Kane Douglas early on, stayed within reach until the pressure eventually got to them just before the break when Smith, Carter and McCaw were involved in setting up Nehe Milner-Skudder. It was a horrible moment for Australia to leak a try, and it only become worse after the break when Nonu stood up several Australian defenders and then out-sprinted Drew Mitchell to score one of the best tries of the tournament.

Australia were now down 21-3, and a shellacking appeared imminent. But such is the spirit of a transformed Wallabies outfit, who only a year ago were divided, ill-disciplined and had badly lost their way under previous coach Ewen McKenzie, that they rallied brilliantly, scoring through a driving maul via David Pocock before Tevita Kuridrani redeemed himself after several earlier blunders to charge through; suddenly they were just four points behind. The revival then petered out, as Carter was once again the Great Settler with his field goal, followed by a New Zealand scrum penalty and then Beauden Barrett's try that resulted from an Australian blunder.

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The 17-point victory may suggest a lopsided effort, but, to the contrary, the Wallabies really made a game of it. As pleasing were their after-match sentiments.

The relationship between Australia and New Zealand has often been fractious, but the Wallabies were only gracious after losing. Wallabies captain Stephen Moore said the bleedingly obvious in his on-field interview straight after losing, but it had to be said: "New Zealand were the best team all tournament. They thoroughly deserve everything they get."

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Wallabies coach Michael Cheika added: "New Zealand have been the best since the last World Cup and they deserve to still be the World Cup holders."

Then came a big, big warning from Cheika.

"We have made good ground in the last 12 months and we have to keep growing. This is just the start."

New Zealand will celebrate their triumph long and hard, but Australian rugby should not be discouraged. They are in good hands with Cheika. He is one who will never be intimidated by this All Black Blackout, especially as numerous New Zealand luminaries are now departing the scene. Cheika's sights remain firmly on that light on the hill.