South Africa celebrates after winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa. Photo: AFP / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
South Africa produced a magnificent defensive effort to edge 14-man New Zealand 12-11 in an arm-wrestle of a Rugby World Cup final, claiming the Webb Ellis Cup for the fourth time in eight attempts.
Only a single yellow card had been shown in nine previous World Cup finals but the crackdown on foul play led to four being handed out over 80 minutes of intense rugby at Stade de France.
All Blacks skipper Sam Cane suffered the ignominy of being the first player to be sent off in a title-decider when his offence was upgraded to a red after a bunker review just before halftime.
"I'm extremely gutted and disappointed. First of all the fact that the boys had to play with 14 men for the last fifty odd minutes," Sam Cane said.
"I thought the courage they showed out there was incredible. The whole team are absolute warriors."
A dejected Sam Cane (captain) of New Zealand after a red card. Rugby World Cup France 2023, New Zealand All Blacks v South Africa FInal match at Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on Saturday 29 October 2023. Photo credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Despite playing for three quarters of the match with 14 men, the All Blacks stuck to their ball-running game plan and scored the game's only try through Beauden Barrett to draw within a point of the lead just before the hour mark.
The Springboks held firm under huge pressure in the final quarter, however, and Handre Pollard's four first-half penalties proved sufficient to retain the title they won four years ago in Japan.
A jubilant South African captain Siya Kolisi said the All Blacks fought and put his side under enormous pressure.
"Credit to my boys for that fight, I'm just grateful that they could pull if off," Siya Kolisi said.
"They took us to the end and took us to a tough place.
"They just showed what kind of team they are to fight with a man down from early in the game."
All Blacks coach Ian Foster said it was a 'heart-wrenching' loss.
"The red card really put us behind the eight ball. I was just so proud of the way that we hung in there and fought our way back," he said.
"We had a lot of momentum in that game in the second half, so I can't ask for any more from them.
"South Africa are a strong team and deserve the win."
All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell was the first to be shown a yellow card as early as the third minute for a clearout on Bongi Mbonambi that forced the Springboks hooker off the pitch with a leg injury.
Flyhalf Pollard kicked the penalty and added another in the 12th minute while New Zealand waited nervously to hear whether Frizell's yellow would be upgraded to a red.
See how the game unfolded with RNZ's live blog
Slotted over
Frizell did come back on and helped New Zealand win a penalty that Richie Mo'unga slotted over to cut the deficit but Pollard replied with a 46-metre effort to give South Africa a 9-6 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
New Zealand's scrum-half Aaron Smith reacts during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Stade de France. Photo: AFP / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
New Zealand were down to 14 men again just before the half-hour mark when Cane clattered head-first into Springboks centre Jesse Kriel but this time there was no reprieve and the All Blacks skipper sat out the rest of the final.
Pollard kicked his fourth penalty after the red card was confirmed and even though Mo'unga replied with another three-pointer before the break, the Springboks went into halftime a man up with a 12-6 lead.
No team had ever recovered from a halftime deficit to win a World Cup final and the Springboks came out flying in the second half looking to drive home their advantage.
Kolisi, however, was sent to the sin bin in the 46th minute for a high tackle on Ardie Savea and New Zealand scrumhalf Aaron Smith thought he had scored the first try of the contest eight minutes later after a brilliant break from Mo'unga.
That score was called back for a knock-on earlier in the move but Beauden Barrett was awarded a try four minutes later despite winger Mark Telea looking to have fumbled the ball forward in the tackle before the fullback touched down.
Beauden Barrett dives to score a try for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup 2023 final between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
It was the first try South Africa had conceded in four World Cup finals but Mo'unga missed the conversion from wide-out and the Springboks held onto a one-point lead at 12-11.
Kolisi had by now returned to the fray and South Africa brought their famed "bomb squad" off the bench to relieve the starting forwards.
South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe was the fourth player to be yellow-carded seven minutes from time but New Zealand's Jordie Barrett struck the subsequent 48-metre penalty attempt wide of the posts.
South Africa celebrates after winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa. Photo: AFP / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
We gave it everything. Thank you for all your support, it means the world #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/aS6wGKCzss
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 28, 2023
- Reuters/RNZ
