Rugby World Cup 2015 - Wynne Gray: All Blacks stomp across globe

New Zealand All Blacks Daniel Carter and Ma'a Nonu, with their winners medals, at the presentation of the Webb Ellis Cup, after winning the Rugby World Cup Final. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

This World Cup went to script. The All Blacks have stomped across the globe since the last tournament dealing to all their rivals.

They were tripped up three times with two other stalemates but 48 wins out of 53 tests was a reflection of their stratospheric superiority before today's final. Defeat would have obliterated all that excellence and left an ugly weal on a golden era.

So the applause goes to the gods of the game and in particular the men in black who claimed a 34-17 victory at Twickenham and their coaching staff. It looked and felt right and the manner of that triumph underlined that reality.

These All Blacks have been well ahead of all their opponents in their skill, planning and execution since Steve Hansen unveiled his first selection against Ireland at Eden Park in 2012. Nigel Owens was the referee that night too when the All Blacks won 42-10.

The All Blacks took out the debut World Cup in 1987 when they were semi-professional and every other team was amateur while other tournaments have not reflected the consistent superiority the All Blacks have showed in the last four year and today.

Australia romped through easy pool games and got through the 1999 tournament unscathed after a semifinal scare with the Boks before they belted an estranged France 35-12 in the final.

These 2015 All Blacks made hard work of an opening win against the Pumas and while their semifinal margin against the Boks was slim they never looked under threat from their rivals' narrow attack.

It was much the same today when the All Blacks kicked clear of their own foibles and the Wallaby resistance to grab a 21-3 lead. The title was sorted then. The All Blacks had too much experience to relinquish that advantage even with Ben Smith in the bin.

The gap closed significantly but when the fullback returned, the subs rolled on and the game hollered for the best to step forward, Daniel Carter answered with a telling dropped goal and penalty.

Those strikes forced the Wallabies to chance their luck even more and when one of those forays broke down, Barrett calmly sprinted away to delete any shock result.

Was the outcome surprising? Not really and that confidence gives some indication about the All Blacks comprehensive arsenal and four year global dominance.