Davies salutes awesome Aussies

Brad Fittler has great players around him

BBC Sport's Jonathan Davies says Australia had so many options that New Zealand were always going to find it hard to stop them from claiming a sixth successive World Cup.

It was a close game for 60 minutes, then New Zealand, who had done a lot of tackling early on, got tired. The war of attrition finally took its toll

New Zealand were forced to do most of their tackling in their own 22 and that takes a lot out of you. That was obvious the longer the game went on.

Australia have got a backbone of great footballers, like Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler, Brett Kimmorley, Scott Hill and Andrew Johns.

Most teams are looking for one or two players to do something but any of those five can spark the team into life.

Tremendous skipper

In Fittler, Australia have a tremendous skipper. He's got great players around him, which makes the captaincy easy, but he leads from the front and has such a high work-rate.

I haven't even mentioned Mat Rogers, Gorden Tallis and Wendell Sailor. Australia have so many options that they are difficult to stop.

New Zealand were forced to do most of their tackling in their own 22 and that takes a lot out of you. That was obvious the longer the game went on

  Jonathan Davies

Sailor was obviously a key player in the final. He scored a couple of great tries but also helped out his forwards in a big way.

He has plenty of power and pace, which make him a real danger.

He should have gone home with three tries under his belt but had his first-half effort ruled out by the fourth official.

In my view that was a try. In Australia, the video referee gives the beneift of doubt to the scorer. I think it should be the same over here.

But it didn't make any difference in the end. The Australians retained their composure and kept piling on the pressure. It was bound to tell in the end.

Turning point

The turning point came when the Kiwis were on a roll but knocked the ball not once but twice. It let Australia off the hook and they never recovered.

Australia's kicking was also a major factor. It was far more effective and dangerous.

The extra length made a big difference and ensured that they were able to camp in New Zealand's half.

The defending champions were just too good and deserved to come out on top again.

I don't know who is going to stop them in the future.

They have got a wealth of top players to choose from. They can spot talent early and nurture it. It's something we should start doping over here.

But the gap is growing rather than closing between the top two sides and the rest of the world - and that is worrying.