A historic thunderstorm of penalties, passionately fighting All Blacks – and in the end South Africa writes history: The Springboks won an intense duel between the major rugby powers and are now the sole record world champions.
South Africa won the final against New Zealand on Saturday evening (October 28, 2023) in Paris with 12:11 (12:6), making it the fourth World Cup title for the country after 1995, 2007 and 2019.
Red card against All Blacks captain Cane
The All Blacks endured a tragic evening in front of 80,000 spectators at the Stade de France and millions in front of the screens, losing, among other things, captain Sam Cane with a red card – such a penalty had never before occurred in a World Cup final. Both teams also saw a total of four yellow cards, which is also historically unique.
New Zealand, world champions in 1987, 2011 and 2015, also had to admit defeat to their great rivals in the second final. This pairing had already happened once in 1995, and the final in South Africa went down in history for more than just sporting reasons: the Springboks competed with black and white players for the first time, and pictures of Nelson Mandela in the green and yellow jersey went around the world.
South Africa took an early 6-0 lead
On Saturday evening, the hunt for the title record was not going well for New Zealand shortly after the start of the game. Winger Shannon Frizell had to leave the field for ten minutes after an overly tough effort with a yellow card. During this phase, South Africa immediately took a 6-0 lead: Handre Pollard converted two penalties (3rd/13th).
Richie Mo’unga (17th) then also shortened the gap with a penalty, Pollard (19th) immediately restored the distance – and then the trouble for New Zealand reached historic proportions: After a hit in the head, the already much criticized captain Cane was also initially penalized for ten Minutes from the pitch, there had never been more than one yellow card in a World Cup final – but it didn’t stop there.
Cane, the tragic hero
After further examination, the referees increased the penalty, and Cane is now a tragic hero with the All Blacks: before the tournament, he was publicly doubted, he responded with performance, led the team to the final – and was now thrown off the field early.
New Zealand then looked as if they had been awakened. When they were outnumbered, the team came out stronger for the first time in this game and got the next three points through Mo’unga (38th). Yellow cards for South Africa’s Siya Kolisi (45th) and Cheslin Kolbe (74th) temporarily ensured parity on the field after the break.
New Zealand pressed and got their only try of the evening through Beauden Barrett (58th) – the deficit shrank to one point, but it was no longer enough.