Rugby: Starting place in final continues dream run

Drafted into the squad as a replacement for Tony Woodcock, Moody was named on the bench for the quarter-final against France days later. Photo / Brett Phibbs

From late addition to the All Blacks' squad to a place in the starting team ahead of Wyatt Crockett for the World Cup final against Australia, prop Joe Moody's dream tour continues.

Drafted into the squad as a replacement for Tony Woodcock, Moody was named on the bench for the quarter-final against France days later.

Replacing Crockett in the first half, Moody was outstanding, a performance which cemented his starting spot against the Springboks in the semifinal at Twickenham.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has decided to retain the starting XV which held off the Boks 20-18.

Moody, along with the rest of the All Black pack, will be expected to exert pressure on a Wallabies scrum which has improved but which appeared vulnerable against Argentina.

In naming his side, Hansen recognised the different paths to the final that the transtasman neighbours have followed. Apart from their first-up test against the Pumas, the All Blacks were in cruise mode until France, but fully tested against the Boks. The Wallabies, on the other hand, have been scrapping for their lives since their opening pool game.

This will be the first time the All Blacks and Australia have met in a World Cup final.

Midfielder Sonny Bill Williams, flanker Jerome Kaino and lock Sam Whitelock have played in a record 13 consecutive World Cup wins.

NZME