- South Africa Claims Narrow 12-11 Victory Over New Zealand
- All Blacks Regret First-Half Red Card for Captain Sam Cane in Tense Match
"An Historic Triumph: South Africa Secures Fourth Men's Rugby World Cup Title" In a historic match, South Africa successfully defended their championship on a rainy evening in Paris, putting to rest any debates about the world's most dominant rugby nation. This epic contest will be remembered for the contrasting fortunes of two captains. Siya Kolisi, South Africa's first black rugby captain, replicated his iconic moment from Japan four years ago by lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, evoking a sense of deja vu for Springbok supporters. However, for his All Black counterpart, Sam Cane, it was a night to forget.
The teams were evenly matched until the critical moment when Cane received a red card, following a video review, for a high tackle on Jesse Kriel in the 27th minute. While there have been more forceful tackles, once the term "a high degree of danger" comes into play, the result is typically inevitable. This marked the first time in a World Cup final, and an unprecedented occurrence for an All Black captain, to be sent off.
The thrilling drama continued to unfold. However, just five minutes into the second half, Kolisi received a yellow card for a contact with Ardie Savea's head, providing a glimmer of hope for the 14-man New Zealand to mount an intense comeback. The All Blacks thought they had scored a try through scrum-half Aaron Smith, but it was disallowed due to a knock-on by Savea in the lead-up. They later managed to score a legitimate try through Beauden Barrett just before the hour mark, setting the stage for an exhilarating finish. Jordie Barrett, Beauden's brother, missed a long-range penalty attempt with seven minutes remaining.
In the stands, tennis legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic watched the gladiatorial contest with empathy. The Springboks, led by Handré Pollard's precise kicking and the dynamic Pieter-Steph du Toit, who showcased the form that earned him the title of world player of the year in 2019, proved their resilience. They became only the second men's team, after New Zealand in 2015, to win consecutive finals.
This match was always expected to be intense. These two nations, deeply proud of their rugby heritage, have a history spanning 102 years. Some games carry more weight than others, evident in the passion of the South African players as they sang the anthems and the focused determination of the Kiwis during the Haka.
The relentless rain added to the intensity of the contest. The downpour would have made even Jacques Cousteau feel at home, not to mention Jacques Nienaber. The slippery ball posed challenges for New Zealand, as it led to more handling errors and subsequently more scrums. South Africa, renowned for its scrummaging prowess, relished these opportunities. Before Barrett's try, the Springboks had never conceded a try in three previous World Cup finals.
In the end, South African determination once again proved decisive in a dramatic turn of events. Remarkably, they managed to secure victory in all three of their knockout matches by a single point, defying various challenges along the way. In this particular game, adversity struck early with the loss of their hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, who had to leave the field after just three minutes due to a falling and twisting tackle by Shannon Frizell, which appeared concerning in slow motion. This setback forced South Africa to call upon the 37-year-old Deon Fourie and added to Mbonambi's already challenging week.
Despite South Africa's early territorial advantage, they only managed to convert it into two penalties by Pollard, while the All Blacks began to increase their pressure. Ardie Savea came close to reaching a clever attacking chip from Jordie Barrett. However, apart from Richie Mo'unga's penalty, New Zealand couldn't find the finishing touch. Pollard, as he did against England, nailed a magnificent long-range kick to extend his team's lead to six points.
The All Blacks needed to maintain their composure, but it momentarily slipped away. A couple of lineouts went awry, and they found themselves down to 14 men after Cane's costly offense. South Africa swiftly capitalized on the situation, winning a turnover penalty that Pollard was preparing to take when news arrived that Cane would not return. Pollard successfully converted the kick, and New Zealand faced an uphill battle.
No team had ever come from behind at half-time to win a men's Rugby World Cup final, and with a 12-6 deficit, the Springbok defense was unyielding in the face of the All Blacks' intricate midfield play. However, after Kolisi's departure, the momentum of the game shifted once more, and New Zealand, opting for corner kicks instead of easy penalties, earned their reward. Mark Telea found space on the left, and his offload was deemed to have gone backward before Beauden Barrett gathered it to score.
The final quarter was equally intense, even before Cheslin Kolbe received a yellow card from the authoritative Wayne Barnes for a deliberate knockdown seven minutes from the end. While the tournament wasn't flawless, with its excessive length and occasional one-sided matches, the best games provided unparalleled excitement. Now, South Africa can revel in their ultimate triumph, leaving the northern hemisphere with much ground to make up – only one World Cup victory in ten attempts.