The All Blacks produced one of the greatest Rugby World Cup performances of all time when they defeated Australia at Twickenham in 2015.
Steve Hansen's side arrived in England as defending champions and became the first nation to successfully retain the Webb Ellis Cup.
New Zealand beat the Wallabies 34-17 in the final, with tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ma'a Nonu and Beauden Barrett helping them complete an historic triumph.
Dan Carter was named Player of the Match after kicking 19 points in what proved to be his final appearance for the All Blacks.
More than a decade later, the players who started that famous final have taken very different paths.
One is now a helicopter pilot, another has landed a major role running New Zealand Rugby's men's high-performance programme – and remarkably, one was still playing professional rugby at the age of 44 in 2026.
Here's what happened to the All Blacks XV that started the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.
15. Ben Smith
One of the most reliable backs of his generation, Smith finished his international career following the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The 84-cap All Black subsequently played in France and Japan before eventually hanging up his boots.
Smith has since moved into coaching and returned to the Highlanders, the Super Rugby club where he spent the majority of his playing career.
The former full-back has worked as part of the Highlanders coaching set-up, passing on the knowledge that helped make him one of New Zealand's most consistent performers.
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
Few players have exploded onto the international stage quite like Milner-Skudder.
He made his All Blacks debut only months before the 2015 World Cup and finished the tournament with six tries, including the opening score in the final.
He was subsequently named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Unfortunately, injuries repeatedly interrupted his career.
Milner-Skudder later had spells with Toulon, Wellington and Rugby New York, but was never able to recreate that extraordinary 2015 run at Test level.
13. Conrad Smith
Smith retired from international rugby immediately after winning his second World Cup and joined French club Pau.
He retired from playing in 2018 before moving into rugby administration.
His career has now come almost full circle.
The 94-cap former centre started the role in September and now helps lead the men's high-performance programme across New Zealand, working with Super Rugby clubs and provincial unions.
12. Ma'a Nonu
Yes, he's still going.
Nonu was already 33 when he produced arguably one of his greatest performances in the 2015 final, memorably bursting through Australia's defence to score early in the second half.
More than a decade later, he was still pulling on the boots.
After further spells in France, America and Japan, Nonu returned to Toulon and became the oldest player and oldest try-scorer in Top 14 history.
Then came another remarkable chapter.
The Sharks brought Nonu to Durban in July 2026 as part of a high-performance mentorship programme.
The South African side confirmed that his primary role would be working with their next generation of players, but he remained available for selection.
There could even be another extraordinary twist to his story.
The 103-cap All Black qualifies for Samoa through his parents, although there is currently no suggestion that he will actually make the switch.
11. Julian Savea
"The Bus" was one of world rugby's most destructive finishers at his peak.
Savea scored an extraordinary eight tries during the 2015 World Cup, including a famous hat-trick against France in the quarter-final.
His international career eventually ended with 46 tries from 54 Tests.
Savea subsequently played for Toulon before returning to New Zealand with the Hurricanes and later joining Moana Pasifika.
As he got older, the powerhouse winger also reinvented himself as a centre.
10. Dan Carter
Carter could hardly have scripted a better farewell.
After missing the knockout stages of New Zealand's 2011 triumph through injury, he dominated the decisive matches four years later.
The fly-half scored 19 points in the final and was named World Rugby Player of the Year for a third time.
Carter subsequently joined Racing 92 and later played in Japan before announcing his retirement in 2021.
Since retiring, the All Blacks great has remained one of the most recognisable rugby figures in the world.
He has also continued to have his say on the modern game, with Carter recently giving his verdict on Springbok sensation Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Carter remains the highest points scorer in Test rugby history.
9. Aaron Smith
Unlike many members of this side, Smith remained an All Black for another eight years.
The scrum-half eventually finished with 125 caps and started the 2023 World Cup final defeat against South Africa.
That proved to be his final Test.
Smith then moved to Japan to continue his club career after more than a decade with the Highlanders.
He left the international game as New Zealand's most-capped scrum-half.
Smith's standing among the game's greats was underlined when Dan Carter selected him in his all-time dream team, alongside several other legends of the game.
8. Kieran Read
Read succeeded Richie McCaw as All Blacks captain and remained a central figure in the national side until the 2019 World Cup.
The number eight finished with 127 Test appearances before moving to Japan with Toyota Verblitz.
He retired from playing in 2021.
Read has remained connected to rugby since calling time on his career, including coaching and mentoring work alongside his business interests.
7. Richie McCaw
Perhaps the most unusual career change on this list.
McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup at Twickenham and announced his retirement just weeks later.
The legendary flanker finished with 148 Test caps, 110 of them as captain, having led New Zealand to successive World Cup titles.
But instead of moving straight into professional coaching, McCaw pursued another passion: flying.
The former All Blacks captain is now listed as a pilot by Christchurch Helicopters, with the company featuring McCaw among its current team.
Christchurch Helicopters also lists McCaw among the pilots available for a number of its flights and experiences.
From All Blacks captain to helicopter pilot is quite the second career.
6. Jerome Kaino
Kaino was another member of the side to win both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.
The powerful blindside eventually ended his All Blacks career with 81 caps before joining Toulouse in France.
He helped the French giants win major silverware before retiring from playing in 2021.
Kaino then made the transition into coaching with Toulouse, beginning the next chapter of his rugby career with the club where he finished playing.
5. Sam Whitelock
Whitelock's All Blacks career lasted considerably longer than most of his 2015 teammates.
The lock went on to win 153 caps, leaving him behind only McCaw on New Zealand's all-time appearance list when his Test career finished.
He was part of the New Zealand team beaten by South Africa in the 2023 World Cup final before joining Pau.
Whitelock announced his retirement in 2024, turning down the possibility of an international comeback to bring an extraordinary career to an end.
His longevity was remarkable considering he had already been a central part of the All Blacks side for years by 2015.
4. Brodie Retallick
Retallick and Whitelock formed one of the outstanding second-row partnerships of the modern era.
The former World Rugby Player of the Year remained an All Black through to the 2023 World Cup.
He finished his international career with 109 Test appearances before moving back to Japan.
Retallick continued playing for Kobelco Kobe Steelers following his departure from New Zealand rugby.
3. Owen Franks
Franks quietly built one of the most remarkable All Blacks careers of his generation.
The tighthead won 108 caps without scoring a single Test point.
More importantly, he was part of the New Zealand squads that won both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.
Franks later played for Northampton Saints before returning to New Zealand with the Hurricanes.
After eventually ending his playing career, the former prop moved into coaching.
2. Dane Coles
Coles was one of the players who helped redefine what was expected from a modern hooker.
Quick, skilful and aggressive, he won 90 Tests during a 12-year All Blacks career.
Like Smith, Retallick and Whitelock, he remained involved through to the 2023 World Cup before retiring.
Coles has subsequently remained connected to the game after hanging up his boots.
1. Joe Moody
Moody completed a formidable New Zealand front row at Twickenham.
The loosehead actually began the 2015 tournament outside the original squad before being called up following an injury to Tony Woodcock.
He ended it as a World Cup winner.
Moody went on to establish himself as New Zealand's first-choice loosehead for several years, winning 57 caps.
His latter seasons were badly disrupted by injuries, and his long association with the Crusaders eventually came to an end as his professional career wound down.
