The Springboks dominated the All Blacks in the rain at the Stade de France on Saturday (12-11), and retained their world title acquired in 2019.
The king keeps his crown. Already crowned during the previous edition in 2019, South Africa won its second final in a row, Saturday October 28 at the Stade de France, against New Zealand (12-11). As against France then England, Eben Etzebeth and his teammates won with a single point difference for the third time in a row. Enough to allow the Springboks to become the most successful selection in the history of the World Cup with now four trophies (1995, 2007, 2019 and therefore 2023), one more than their evening opponents.
To bring down the All Blacks, South Africa used the same ingredients that allowed them to reach the final: exceptional physical density, permanent aggressiveness on the carrier in defense, and flawless kicking which allowed us to gradually widen the gap against the All Blacks who were unable to demonstrate their feared speed.
New Zealand captain Sam Cane sent off
At the break, in the fine rain at the Stade de France making the candles difficult to receive, the Springboks had a first hand on the match (12-6), thanks to a 4/4 at the foot of Handré Pollard . South Africa also took advantage of their early numerical superiority, achieved after just two minutes and the yellow card received by Shannon Frizell. Despite this bunker looking like a first warning, the New Zealanders then received a red card and lost their captain Sam Cane, at fault for a neck tackle on Jesse Kriel (34th), which will remain as the first expulsion in history in a World Cup final.
While Rieko Ioane (37th), Siya Kolisi (42nd) then Kurt-Lee Arendse (45th) were very close to scoring the first try of the match, South Africa, in turn reduced to 14 after the card yellow of his captain Kolisi (46th), continued his undermining work after the break with the contribution of the substitutes, so precious in his strategy. Organized in 7-1 (7 forwards, 1 back), a very rare strategy which had already allowed them to inflict the heaviest in their history on the All Blacks in preparation at the end of August (35-7), the Springboks were rewarded even if everything only came down to one point.
Mo’Unga and Barrett miss the decisive kick
As in the quarter-semi-finals, they benefited from this grain of success essential to winning a world title. For example, they were spared Aaron Smith’s try (55th), canceled by the video because of a forward from Ardie Savea. This did not prevent Beauden Barrett avenged his teammate a few minutes later by scoring the only try of the match (58th). But, behind, the New Zealanders missed their two kicks, Richie Mo’Unga’s conversion then a penalty from Jordie Barrett (73rd).
Like its 2023 World Cup, South Africa played on a tightrope, unable to break away from the score but never overtaken. Here are the Springboks, now quadruple world champions, and the second to retain their title after… New Zealand in 2011 and 2015. Since England’s coronation in 2003, five editions in a row, the title has never escaped to these two nations, a sign of their influence on world rugby.