New Zealand have done it on D-day, with the All Blacks hanging on for a nervous 8-7 win over France at Eden Park.
World Cup Final Result
New Zealand 8-7 France
That's it. It's all over and New Zealand have held on - just - to become champions of the world for the first time in 24 years. It was nervous at the end and you really would not have been surprised if that superb France onslaught had brought about more Kiwi heartache.
They could not manage it though and, four years after his Cardiff heartbreak, Graham Henry has brought the Webb Ellis trophy back to New Zealand. And his team have won it on home soil.
Hard luck Les Bleus, hearty congratulations to the All Blacks.
FULL-TIME: NEW ZEALAND 8-7 FRANCE
79': We're into the last minute and the advantage is with the All Blacks. Have they done enough?
76': Jean-Marc Doussain, on for his French debut, makes a mistake straight away and is turned over. Sonny Bill Williams, meanwhile, is on for the All Blacks.
74': Six minutes to go and still we have no idea who South Africa will be handing the Webb Ellis trophy over to. It has to be said that France have all the play at the moment. What they do not have is the lead.
69': Pascal Pepe is the lastest injured Frenchman as Julien Pierre enters the fray. The Kiwis have just regrouped a little, but one score for France is all it will take for them to blow it yet again.
64': France win a penalty and Trinh-Duc goes for it. However, it is a long way out and in the end a long way off. The French miss out on the chance to take the lead, but the momentum has swung their way in spite of the fact that they still trail.
62': We have a real battle now at Eden Park, with French unumber eight Imanol Harinordoquy causing all sorts of hassle to a New Zealand side that must be dripping with nerves. Lieveremont's men may have saved their best until last and New Zealand will need to score again you feel.
52': It was Dusautoir's try that dragged France into an advantageous position against the All Blacks inCardiff four years ago. Could history be about to repeat itself. Certainly's France's pre-game odds seem more than generous now.
48': Henry responds to that try by hauling off the disappointing Weeepu and introducing Andy Ellis.
47': TRY FOR FRANCE: Talk about responses as the excellent Rougerie leads a super storm forward by the men from the northern hemisphere, one that leads to captain Thierry Dusautoir gettiing the space to touch down right beside the left post. Trinh-Duc, also instrumental in the build-up, makes no mistake with the conversion and we have a one-point game again.
45'': PENALTY FOR NEW ZEALAND: More to rue for France after that Yachvili miss. Stephen Donald, as suggested, takes over kicking duties from Weepu and slots over the first points of the game since the 14th minute. Lieveremont responds by introducing Damien Traille, a man who did not expect to play any part in this final. He takes the place of a limping Clerc.
43': Oh, so close to three points back for France. They began the second half in determined fashion, with Rougerie making great ground before an infringement by McCaw. France's first kicking opportunity of the day, however, has been stroked narrowly wide to the left by Dimitri Yachvili.
41': And we are back underway. In 40 minutes' time there will be tears of joy and tears of despair. But whose will be which?
09'59: The teams are back on the field as we prepare for the second half. This is it!
HALF-TIME: NEW ZEALAND 5-0 FRANCE. And there is the break. Well, it has been enthralling stuff and essentially anything can yet happen. It is a pity that we have seen more tournament-ending injuries after the knocks that Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale took for Australia in Friday's bronze medal win over Wales, but is is now down to the 30 men left on the field to decide this one over 40 huge minutes.
Lievremont's men have hung on in there at times and survived several New Zealand placed balls. They have been sloopy at times but, after an underwhelming tournament up to this minute, remain well-placed to upset the odds and make the All Blacks miserable once again. Those missed penalties will have had Henry tearing what little is left of his hair out, but he will have seen enough in his side to convince him that they can see this one out. It is, though, as they say - all to play for.
39': It's nearly half-time and there is so little int his fierce encounter as the hard knocks continue to be freely adminstered and accepted.
36': French replacement Trinh-Duc sends a drop goal effort wide of the posts just a few seconds after his side neglected to have a go at goal from a longe-range penalty. That might have been the better option, though they knnow their own range you would presume.
35': Ouch! Aaron Cruden, the young man who has impreesed so much in the absences of Carter and Colin Slade has just gone over with what looks a bad knock to the knee. France have lost their number 10 already and now the same has happened to the All Blacks. Stephen Donald comes on.
That is more sadness. Cruden has really impressed since coming into theis New Zealand team and starred against the Wallabies last week. Could Donald, however, be the man to take over from Weepu and perhaps restore the New Zealand kicking game to a more prolific one?
33': Just some signs of life from France in the attacking end as William Servat takes them forward. Ultimately, however, it comes to nothing from a line-out. Still, with just five points separating the sides this game remains anybody's.
30': Another let-off for France as Richard Kahui's kick is too close to the line for McCaw to get to it before Aurélien Rougerie grounds it safely. Good build up play there from the All Blacks' Kieran Read.
26': The aftermath of the breakdown is proving pivotal in this one as careless France defence leads to another penalty for Weepu. Luckily for the French he is struggling today and kicks to the right again. That is eight points that this IRB World Player of the Year contender has left behim him today. It could be 13-0. It isn't, it's just 5-0.
22': Sad scenes as Parra is forced off again. That looks to be the end of his tournament as Trinh-Duc comes on again.A super kick from Israel Dagg, meanwhile, laves the French to take a line-out perilously close to their own try-line.
18': Better news for France as Parra returns to the field of play. It was quite a knock he took so we will just have to wait and see if he can cope for the remainder. Marc Lievremont needs all his best men, and will hope this is the right call.
15': TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND: And it was so simple when it came. The Les Bleus defence was marked absent as a hole was left from the line-out. Prop Tony Woodcock bombed through the gap to bag his first try of the tournament. Weepu's conversion kick is a better effort than his earlier penalty but not better enough, so we have a score of 5-0 to the Kiwis.
12': Dear oh dear! Morgan Parra has just taken a heavy knock to the head from the knee of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. François Trinh-Duc has come on. That is a blow for France.
8': Both sides are making a few early efforts in possession. New Zealand were such heavy favourites for this one, that a few value bets on the French do exist. Maybe you fancy an in-game punt? Why not have a look here?
6': Vincent Clerc is penalised by referee Craig Joubert, but Piri Weepu's kick is awful He was not as his best against the Wallabies a week ago as Dan Carter's absence is again notable. Still no score in Auckland.
3': An intense start at Eden Park. We await the first score as the two sides go at each other in fierce fashion. The All Blacks have an early penalty.
1': GAME ON! We are underway. France are in white. The All Blacks are in....all black and what an 80 minutes we have ahead of us!
08.58: Such pride is on show as the national anthems ring out, while the excitement around Eden Park, Auckland, is something to behold. We are pretty much ready to go - that is of course after the final Haka of this World Cup.
08.30: The All Blacks are considered the monumental favourites today, but they have suffered at the hands of the French before, most notably in the quarter-final in Cardiff four years ago. Thay have, however, already beaten them in the current competition, though it has to be said that France fielded far from a full-strength team in that pool stage encounter.
After emerging as winners of that pool, New Zealand took down Argentina in their quarter-final before dominating neighbours Australia in the semi. France outfoxed England in the last eight before failing to impress in getting past 14-man Wales last time out. Everything that has gone before matters not now though. It is all down to one 80-minute period.
Kiwis coach Graham Henry is not taking his side's favourites' tag for granted and is wary of what France can offer, with Les Bleus try-scorer supreme Vincent Clerc is adamant that his side have a real chance.
Below are today's teams. Both New Zealand and France are unchanged, but both managers have made one change to their replacements' benches.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui; Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks; Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.
Replacements: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams.
France: Maxime Médard; Vincent Clerc, Aurélien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson; Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Nicolas Mas; Pascal Papé, Lionel Nallet; Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Marc Doussain, François Trinh-Duc, Damien Traille.