New Zealand have claimed the Rugby World Cup after fighting off a determined and outstanding effort from France to win 8-7.The All Blacks led 5-0 at half-time after Tony Woodcock crossed in the 15th minute and went further ahead early in the second half when Stephen Donald added a penalty.

But France responded through Thierry Dusautoir, whose try was converted, as the underdogs pushed hard to wrest the lead from New Zealand's clutches.

France captain Dusautoir and ever-present lieutenant Imanol Harinordoquy were immense in the dying moments to deny New Zealand the lifeblood ball it so desired to get out of its own half in the second period.

But a vital break came and New Zealand crawled their way towards halfway in a controlled piece of forward play, winning a vital penalty with a minute to play.

It broke the back of the spirited France effort and allowed All Blacks No.8 Kieran Read to secure the ball at the lineout, setting up a drive which resulted in the game-securing penalty.

Having lost key stalwarts like fly half Dan Carter and fullback Mils Muliaina during the tournament, New Zealand finished the game with their fourth-choice No.10 Donald on the field after Aaron Cruden joined Carter and his deputy Colin Slade on the injured bench.

Conditions were perfect at Eden Park in Auckland, with no wind to speak of and a crowd of more than 60,000.

After 24 years without lifting the World Cup, New Zealand had little chance to put their destructive backline to use, as it came down to basic forward play to secure victory.

France set the scene by challenging the haka, walking from their designated position on the 10m line in arrowhead formation to halfway - the only time any team has broken the IRB ruling on dealing with the haka.

France made the first thrust of the game when they attempted to run the ball at New Zealand, but the constant probing found no openings and it was a superb piece of play that saw the All Blacks score first.

Scrum half Piri Weepu, who had earlier missed a penalty-goal attempt, won a penalty from a France lineout.

Flanker Dusautoir took the long throw but was tackled by Read, and Weepu was prevented from claiming the ball.

His penalty kick took New Zealand to within five metres of the France line.

New Zealand threw to flanker Jerome Kaino and, after the front half of the lineout moved forward, a huge gap was created through which prop Woodcock ambled over the line for the try.

Weepu missed the conversion and another penalty-goal attempt, but his kicking over the top from rucks was pinpoint and kept France pinned in their half for long periods.

New Zealand suffered a blow when Cruden was forced to leave the field with a knee injury in the 33rd minute, replaced by Donald. France had earlier lost their own fly half Morgan Parra when he appeared to suffer from concussion.

Read was prominent, often standing in midfield to receive the ball and bullock his way through, with Dusautoir taking a similar role for France.

Francois Trinh-Duc replaced Parra and made a hash of an early dropped goal attempt, but ran back a Donald kick to the deep and he was halted from his opportunity by a flying ankle tap from All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

Donald opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty goal in the 44th minute, but France struck back when New Zealand lost the ball in a turnover as Dagg attempted to bring the ball forward.

France took some moments to work out their options and it was left for centre Aurelien Rougerie to straighten the attack and set up the chance for Dusautoir, who scooped up the ball to score by the posts.

Trinh-Duc added the conversion.

As expected, France took heart and their confidence lifted, helping them shut down the All Blacks' attempts to break through.

A turnover on an All Blacks throw to a lineout also highlighted the issues for the home team as they attempted to regain the initiative.

France produced their best scrum of the match in the 64th minute to win a penalty a metre inside New Zealand's half, but Trinh-Duc was unable to convert.

France held the ball and gave New Zealand no chance to progress out of their half.

But the home defence was also solid and unrelenting, and in the end that defensive play was vital to the victory.