Rod MacQueen's side produced the little entertainment on offer on a poor quality pitch and tries by Ben Tun Tune and replacement flanker Owen Finegan sealed a deserved success.

Tune plunged over in the corner after 66 minutes following good work from the outstanding Australian centre Tim Horan in a match which failed to live up to expectations.

Finegan than bulldozed over six minutes into stoppage time against a flagging French defence to confirm the victory.

The immaculate Wallaby full-back Matt Burke kicked 25 points while Christophe Lamaison struck all 12 for France, who failed to reproduce the stunning display ofrunning rugby which helped them upset favourites New Zealand in the semis.

The 23-point winning margin was the biggest in a World Cup final and the points tally of 35 was also a record in a final. It was France's second defeat in the final following their 1987 loss to The All Blacks.

It was the Wallabies' second World Cup triumph following their 1991 victory over England and means the northern hemisphere must wait another four years for the chance to win the Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time. New Zealand won the inaugural event in 1987 while South Africa triumphed four years ago.