Ella, 56 and who played four Tests for Australia from 1982-1985, even rates the All Blacks pairs as "probably the two best players in their positions in the world."

On Aaron Smith, the All Blacks halfback, Ella says: "The danger is that he is so quick around the scrum base. You leave half a gap and he will go straight through it.

"He is a great link between the forwards and the backs. He has a good rapport there."

Asked how to best counter the No. 9, Ella, who has been in regular contact with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika during the World Cup said: "As I said to 'Cheik,' you have just got to bash Aaron to stop his chance to run. You have to bury him. You have to make sure your forwards are around those rucks and mauls. Don't slip up. Don't look the other way. Look at the halfback first until he passes the ball."

Ella lauds Ben Smith, the All Blacks' fullback as: "A world class player. He runs the ball, his decisions are good. He catches the high ball and can run … and he loves it. You have to make sure that defensive line is intact when you go forward. If there is a gap, a break in the line, he'll exploit it and go straight through it."

Ella, assistant Wallabies coach in the 1995 World Cup when they lost in the quarter-final and in 2003 when they lost the final has been measured with his input to Cheika. "Cheik is his own man," Ella said.

"He will make his own decisions based on what he thinks his team can do. He won't go on maybes. He will go on 'this is what my team can do … this is what they are capable of and this is how we play.' "

Pain of defeat

So you think the disappointment of losing a World Cup final is something players can get over in time? Well … not all of them if you listen to David Giffin reflect on the 2003 title decider in Sydney when Australia lost it to England that went into extra time off a drop goal by Jonny Wilkinson in the 100th minute. Giffin, a second rower and member of the 1999 World Cup winning Wallabies, had never watched a replay of the game since Australia lost 20-17 until it had been replayed in parts in the lead up to and during this year's tournament in England. "I was incredibly disappointed and probably disappointed more as time goes on because you realise you don't get those opportunities every day," Giffin said this week. "I haven't watched it since we played it, but I saw it on lead up to this World Cup on television because it's on so often."

What's doing Wallabies

The final captain's run on Friday at Twickenham, their 'home' since beating England there in a pool round.

Making news

'All Blacks captain Richie McCaw might test referees but he is still a great,' - A call for respect in thetelegraph.co.uk for the All Blacks skipper nearing his 149th Test

'Australia and New Zealand fans riled about World Cup final kick-off time,' - In theguardian.com voices of protest in Australia and New Zealand for the 4pm (GMT) kick-off to the title decider at Twickenham fall on deaf ears at World Rugby

They said it

"The difference at the moment is that New Zealand only have Richie McCaw in their back row, while Australia have Hooper and Pocock working together. That gives them a different dimension at the breakdown. Their speed into the breakdown will give the All Blacks a real headache. It will be interesting to see how they deal with that," – All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu to The Press Association on the threat of back rowers Michael Hooper and David Pocock to New Zealand

What to watch

Saturday: 3-4th play-off: South Africa-Argentina at London 7am (AEDT

Sunday: Final: New Zealand v Australia at London (3am AEDT)