New Zealand head coach Graham Henry has announced an unchanged team for Sunday’s one-sided World Cup final against France at Eden Park.
Aaron Cruden and Piri Weepu are together again in a half-back partnership that would have been hugely unlikely before the start of the tournament and has only come about following injuries to out halves Dan Carter and Colin Slade and Jimmy Cowan losing his place at scrum half.
Sonny Bill Williams must content himself with a place on the bench, with Richard Kahui preferred on teh wing.
The only change in the 22 is on the bench, where socks-around-his-ankles merchant Adam Thompson comes into the squad at the expense of Victor Vito.
Richie McCaw will captain the side and barring the biggest collective choke in the history of rugby, will become only the second All Black ever, and the first since Buck Shelford in 1987, to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy.
New Zealand (v France): I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, R Kahui; A Cruden, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks; B Thorn, S Whitelock; J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: A Hore, B Franks, A Williams, A Thomson, A Ellis, S Donald, SB Williams.
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