MANCHESTER: As Manchester United players arrived at Old Trafford after the Kangaroos' last training session before the World Cup final, Brett Morris recited the chant the famous club's fans perform for each of them so to him the bruise on his hip from crashing into a hoarding at the famous ground was another trophy.

The safety fears of players and officials in both the Australian and New Zealand camps about the short in-goals and dramatic drop off at the sides of the elevated pitch were realised when Morris and Manu Vatuvei both went off the edge after chasing kicks.

Slip sliding away: Brett Morris eyes an imminent collision with an advertising billboard after scoring a try in Australia's 34-2 World Cup final win over New Zealand. Credit:Getty Images

But, after scoring a spectacular second half try when he kicked for Jarryd Hayne and then chased the Australian centre's spectacular kick without catching the ball, Morris said he was not worried about landing on the gutter lined with bricks at the end of the field.

"To be honest it doesn't bother me," Morris said. "People are going to talk about safety issues but this is an historic ground and we were very happy to play here.