Nehe Milner-Skudder's try on the stroke of half-time helped give New Zealand a 16-3 interval lead against Australia in the World Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday.

It had seemed the All Blacks would turn round just 9-3 in front, courtesy of three Dan Carter penalties to one from opposing fly-half Bernard Foley.

But a brilliant handling move involving centre Conrad Smith, scrum-half Aaron Smith and All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw sent right wing Milner-Skudder in at the corner.

Carter added the difficult conversion and New Zealand had a 13-point lead at the break and with the Wallabies having lost two key players to injury centre Matt Giteau and lock Kane Douglas.

No team has ever come back from a deficit at halftime to win the trophy.

Source: AFP