The last time New Zealand's name was inscribed onto the base of the Webb Ellis Cup, the year was 1987 – back then Maori wasn't even recognised as official language in New Zealand and Peter Jackson's Bad Taste was the film Kiwis were raving about. Twenty four years of World Cup agony (too often at the hands of the French) have followed. Tonight those wounds could be soothed if the All Blacks can finally reclaim the cup. Ironically, it is the French who stand in their way tonightPhotograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesThe All Blacks coach Graham Henry has spent four years planning for tonight following his side's unexpected departure from the 2007 tournament at the hands of Les Bleus in the quarter-final in Cardiff. Henry looks tense ... very tense ... and so he should. Four million people are relying on his judgementPhotograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty ImagesRichie McCaw's knee is in such a state of disrepair that it was said to resemble a tent pole pushing at the canvas after the semi-final victory over Australia. Nonetheless, he's playing tonight. How could he not?Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty ImagesFrance's captain Thierry Dusautoir leads his team out alongside McCaw. The French have lost twice already at this tournament in the group stages – once to New Zealand and once to Tonga. But over the next 80 minutes they could yet steal the cup from the All BlacksPhotograph: Phil Walter/AFP/Getty ImagesThe All Blacks management team watch from their box as the players sing God Defend New ZealandPhotograph: David Rogers/Getty ImagesA ferocious rendition of the haka follows ... Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesIt's a far cry from the haka the touring party of 1916 performed against South Africa in Richmond, London. This looks more like a case of heads, shoulders, knees and toesPhotograph: Topical Press Agency/Getty ImagesThe French greet the haka in curious fashion by forming a spear-shape, led by Dusautoir, and then advancing towards the All BlacksPhotograph: Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesThey stop short of their rivals – perhaps a wise move as McCaw and his cohorts are looking pretty pumped up. Ma'a Nonu even seems to be singling out a member of the opposition for the finale of the Kapa o Pango ... chilling stuff ... and what a way to precede kick-off in a World Cup finalPhotograph: Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesUnexpectedly, it's the French who are the dominant force from the kick-off. Mark Lièvremont's men are exploiting some jittery play from the ABs and are stealing line-out ball with unnerving frequency. Here, Lionel Nallet wins possessionPhotograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesFrance have a muscular pack and their loose forwards are especially avaricious. Here, McCaw is tackled by his opposite number Julien BonnairePhotograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesPiri Weepu shanks the opening kick of the match. It's gone woefully widePhotograph: William West/AFP/Getty ImagesNevertheless, it's the All Blacks who strike first ... prop Tony Woodcock dives over the try-line unimpeded after Jerome Kaino flicks the line-out ball down towards himPhotograph: William West/AFP/Getty ImagesHis team-mates are quick to congratulate him. Looks like they're as surprised as anyone that Woodcock is the first try-scorer tonightPhotograph: APFrance's fly-half Morgan Parra takes a nasty knock when McCaw clatters into him at the breakdown. Parra is caught by McCaw's knee, but replays don't provide any evidence of intent. Parra heads to the blood-bin and is ultimately replaced by Francois Trinh-Duc Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesAll Blacks winger Richard Kahui finds himself locked out as the French resistance gores All Blacks momentumPhotograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty ImagesAurelien Rougerie is forced to smother a chip from Kahui in the try area as McCaw threatens to interceptPhotograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesBad news, though, for Graham Henry. Having lost his first choice fly-half Dan Carter in the pool stages and his second choice Colin Slade in the quarter-final, his third choice Aaron Cruden has just twisted his knee and can't continue. What a calamity. 33 minutes gone and Stephen Donald is thrown in to replace him. Only two weeks ago Donald was fishing in the Waikato River, now he's playing in a World Cup finalPhotograph: Stuart Hannagan/Getty ImagesWeepu's kicking game might be off key today but that is a critical tap-tackle on Trinh-Duc. The Frenchman was skipping through the centre of the All Blacks without a meaningful challenge and had Weepu not clipped his trailing ankle he may well have reached the try-line. It's 5-0 at half-time and the conclusion to the action was rather telling of how these two teams are feeling – Weepu blasted the ball into touch at the first opportunity and runs hurriedly back to the changing roomPhotograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesDonald begins the second half by seizing the kicking duties from Weepu, who's missed three out of three. It's a pretty straight forward kick, this one, but the pressure is on. Fortunately for the AB's Donald squeezes it through the posts and gives them an 8-0 leadPhotograph: Alastair Grant/APBut within three minutes France are on the attack. Rougerie steal possession and sets up a passage of play in which Dimitri Yachvili breaks free but slips. William Servat then misses an opportunity to spread the play wide, but inside Dusautoir galavants through the centre ...Photograph: Rob Griffith/AP... and touches down. There's only one point in it after the try is convertedPhotograph: Paul Harding/Action ImagesThe French are ploughing into the All Blacks and though the New Zealand forwards are increasingly desperate they are, so far, holding firm. Trinh-Duc sends a long-range penalty wide of the posts in the dying stages and France's best chance of victory may well have gone with itPhotograph: David Davies/PAAnd there it is, the final whistle is blown and New Zealand are the world champions once more! Photograph: David Davies/PAFans around the ground punch the air in unison – in relief as much as anythingPhotograph: Stuart Hannagan/Getty ImagesFrance's No8 Imanol Harinordoquy lies on the ground dejected as the Kiwis celebrate the narrowest but most thrilling of victoriesPhotograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesJerome Kaino is a picture of delight as he jumps onto team-mate Sonny Bill WilliamsPhotograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty ImagesWhile Trinh-Duc is a shattered manPhotograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty ImagesDonald gets a pat on the head as the All Blacks take to the podium to receive the trophy - ultimately he'll go down as the man who kicked the points which have won the World CupPhotograph: Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesThe moment a nation has waited for ... Richie McCaw lifts the Webb Ellis cup and sends his team-mates and countrymen deliriousPhotograph: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty ImagesThey've scrapped to victory tonight, but they won't care a jot. Their name is back on the trophy and the word choke will never be muttered againPhotograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesCory Jane and Israel Dagg celebrate like kids in snowPhotograph: Nigel Marple/ReutersOne suspects Lièvremont will be heading straight back to the changing room to whip off that moustachePhotograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty ImagesNonu waves to supporters as he leaves the field. New Zealand fans will no doubt celebrate through the night and long into tomorrow when the victory parade will take place along Queen Street in AucklandPhotograph: Nigel Marple/ReutersMcCaw doesn't look like he'll be letting go of that trophy any time soon. Even in four years time at the 2015 World Cup in England, it could be hard to prise it from his graspPhotograph: David Rogers/Getty Images
