Poll: Can Australia stop the All Blacks landing the World Cup?
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On Saturday afternoon the world of rugby will set their sights on Twickenham as a World Champion is crowned.
Australia and New Zealand have come through some bruising encounters to book their places in the World Cup final at the home of British rugby union, and it should be a cracker.
Defending champs the All Blacks have never met their old rivals on this big stage before, but with the Wallabies winning just one of the last 12 meetings, Richie McCaw and co come into this as undoubted favourites.
The bookies back that up, making Steve Hansen’s team 4/11 jollies to be victorious when Nigel Owens blows for full-time, with their southern hemisphere neighbours 9/4 to go home with the Webb Ellis Trophy.
The two-time winners also have a slight advantage of one day longer to prepare for the match, having defeated South Africa last Saturday, before the Aussies overcame a dogged Argentina team 24 hours later.
New Zealand have named an unchanged team for the final from their one that was victorious in the last four, while Australia have made one change.
Michael Cheika has recalled Scott Sio after the prop missed out in their semi final fixture.
If the powerhouse can be the difference in taking his nation over the line remains to be seen, but if the men in gold can get their hands on the trophy for the first time in 16 years, they would also usurp the All Blacks as world number one for the first time ever.
Many will see that as an unlikely scenario, with New Zealand looking imperious in their displays so far, but on the biggest stage anything can happen.
So we want you to tell us how you think it will play out. Vote now in today’s poll and tell us who will finish the tournament with a flourish.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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