South Africa Clinches Unprecedented Fourth Rugby World Cup

In a gripping showdown at the rain-soaked Stade de France on Saturday, South Africa defied all odds and secured a monumental 12-11 victory over a resilient 14-man New Zealand, etching their name in history with an unprecedented fourth Rugby World Cup triumph. The match, marked by ferocious defensive displays from both sides, witnessed the expulsion of All Blacks’ captain Sam Cane in the first half, setting the stage for a pulsating battle that captivated the 80,065 spectators, including renowned tennis icons Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

For South Africa 🇿🇦#StrongerTogether #Springboks #RWCFinal #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/v5hfD1N7LF
— Springboks (@Springboks) October 28, 2023

Forced Bok substitution in first two minutes

The encounter opened dramatically as All Black flanker Shannon Frizell incurred a yellow card within the initial minutes, sidelining Bok hooker Bongi Mbonambi due to an unfortunate injury. Nevertheless, the resilient South African squad, fueled by the heroics of replacement flanker Deon Fourie, swiftly regained their composure, with Handre Pollard’s precise penalty conversions putting them ahead on the scoreboard.

A relentless exchange of bone-crunching tackles ensued in the intense first quarter, characterized by the Boks’ relentless aggression led by the stellar Pieter-Steph du Toit, effectively limiting the All Blacks’ territory. Despite Richie Mo’unga’s successful penalty kick for New Zealand, Pollard promptly responded, showcasing his kicking prowess with a thunderous 49-meter strike, amplifying South Africa’s lead to 9-3.

All Blacks lost captain due to red card

New Zealand’s plight worsened as Sam Cane’s high tackle on Jesse Kriel resulted in his expulsion from the game, leaving the All Blacks with 14 players for nearly half the match. Despite numerous opportunities, South Africa failed to capitalize on their advantageous position during the match. Prior to half-time, both New Zealand and South Africa managed to secure additional points through penalties, leaving the Boks with a 12-6 lead. As the All Blacks retreated to the changing rooms, their captain absent, they were confronted with the stark realization that no team had ever triumphed in a final after trailing at half-time.

Handré Pollard has scored all 12 points for South Africa, including this long-range penalty 🔥#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/iQBEKVtObJ
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 28, 2023

Strong second half start by Boks but no points to show

South Africa initiated the second half on a strong note, generating two promising try opportunities that unfortunately remained unfulfilled. The initial chance saw Siya Kolisi miss a clear five-pointer mere seconds into the latter period, retaining possession as the whitewash loomed ahead, despite the advancing presence of Cheslin Kolbe and Kriel on the flank. Later, Kurt-Lee Arendse came close to seizing a cunning Kolbe grubber, only to narrowly miss the opportunity as the Boks asserted their dominance over possession. Despite the initial momentum favoring the Springboks, a sudden shift in dynamics altered the course of the game.

Kurt-Lee Arendse comes achingly close to extending South Africa's lead 🥵#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/POj5r2qWQi
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 28, 2023

Massive momentum shift to the All Blacks

In the 44th minute of the game, Siya Kolisi found himself on the receiving end of a yellow card following a high tackle on Savea, who spearheaded the All Black charge up the field. The New Zealand team began to apply immense pressure on South Africa, strategically securing a couple of penalties and executing well-placed kicks to the corner, forcing the South African team into a defensive stance near their own goal line. This relentless All Black pressure eventually paid dividends as the ball was swiftly recycled to the left, finding its way to Tele’a, who skillfully evaded three defenders before making a crucial offload to Beauden Barrett, resulting in a successful touchdown. Although Mo’unga missed the subsequent touchline conversion, the game swiftly transformed into a nail-biting one-point affair, leaving 23 minutes on the clock for both teams to vie for supremacy.

In the final 20 minutes of the match, South Africa made a strategic move by attempting four drop goal opportunities, showcasing their determination to secure a favorable outcome. However, their struggle to maintain possession for extended periods, limited to no more than 5 phases, added to the palpable tension in the stadium, creating an atmosphere that was almost tangible.

Kurt-Lee Arendse with a stunning try-saving tackle just before the break 🤯#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/x8A8crROi6
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 28, 2023

Spring Yellow Card Blow

In the 72nd minute of the fiercely contested match, South Africa suffered another setback as Cheslin Kolbe’s decisive attempt to thwart a promising try opportunity for New Zealand resulted in a yellow card. Kolbe’s deliberate knock down of an Anton Lienert-Brown pass, with a clear overlap on the outside, meant that both teams would navigate the critical final moments of the game with reduced manpower, each playing with 14 players on the field. Despite the tense atmosphere, Jordie Barrett’s attempt to secure points through a long-range penalty went wide, intensifying the nail-biting suspense of the remaining six minutes. Consequently, the scoreboard still favored the Boks, with the score standing at 12-11.

Springboks manages to close out

In the final moments of the match, South Africa showcased the ability to assert ball control, compelling New Zealand to persistently defend from their own half, occasionally even within their 22. Despite New Zealand’s efforts to push back to the halfway line within the Springboks’ territory with approximately two minutes left, robust defensive plays by the Boks led to a knock-on, granting South Africa a significant scrum advantage. With only seconds remaining, all the Springboks needed to do was retain possession, securing their victory and clinching the World Champions title. Ultimately, the Boks effectively executed this strategy, securing back-to-back titles and their fourth overall, following their triumphs in 1995, 2007, and 2019.