South Africa won the Rugby World Cup for the fourth time with a dramatic 12-11 win over New Zealand in the final in Paris on Sunday.
There were four cards shown in the match, including a red card for New Zealand captain Sam Kane – the first time a player has been sent off in a final.
But New Zealand fought back brilliantly despite playing with just 14 men for the entire second half, and threatened a stunning comeback with a superb performance.
The Springboks failed to score in the second half but a superb defensive display secured them the win at the Stade de France.
The Springboks have won three successive knockout tournaments by one point, won the tournament for the second year in a row and claimed the World Cup title on their own four times.
2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson declared on BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think we’ve witnessed the greatest rugby team in history.
“What they’ve just done in this tournament is incredible. The way they’ve gone through the group stage and the knockout stages is incredible.
“I don’t think it will be surpassed, and with that target on his back, the tag of being the reigning world champion.”
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South Africa captain Siya Kolisi told BBC Radio 5 Live: “There’s no way to explain it. I have to give credit to the All Blacks. They took us all the way, they took us to a dark place.
“It shows what kind of team they are. They fought with one player down early in the game. They put a lot of pressure on us.
“I give credit to my boys for the fight, too. I’m just so grateful that we were able to do it.”
He added: “People who are not from South Africa don’t understand what it means to our country. It’s not just about the game.
“Our country has been through so much. We are so grateful to be here. I want to say to the people of South Africa, ‘Thank you so much.’
The Springboks had adapted well to the wet and windy conditions in Paris for the final, but New Zealand were rocked in the first half when Shannon Frizzell and captain Sam Kane were each shown two yellow cards.
The latter was later upgraded to a red card for being dangerous in a high tackle.
For the first time in World Cup history, a player was sent off in a final, and the All Blacks had to overcome a second-half setback after trailing 12-6 at half-time. All of South Africa’s goals came from Handre Pollard.
But New Zealand got a boost just six minutes from time when Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was booked for a high shot.
New Zealand had their first try of the final when Beauden Barrett slotted home the winner in the 59th minute after sustained pressure and multiple penalties, seconds after Aaron Smith’s try was ruled out.
And in the fourth card of the match, with both teams finishing with 14 men, South African winger Cheslin Kolbe was sent off for a deliberate foul in the 72nd minute.
It is worth noting that, until this tournament, there had only been one card in World Cup final history: that of New Zealand fullback Ben Smith in 2015 when he was sent off.
But the All Blacks missed another chance to go ahead when New Zealand’s Jordy Barrett sent his penalty kick wide of the target.
Despite not trailing throughout the match, the South African team refused to give up and held on tenaciously to claim their fourth ever title.
Peter-Stephen du Toit won the Man of the Match award after a stunning individual performance, recording 28 tackles and forcing a turnover.
In fact, the Springboks recorded a whopping 209 tackles, while New Zealand recorded 93.
“The last three games have been very tough. Every game we’ve played has been a final and we’ve won them all by one point,” he said.
“We are honoured to play for South Africa and the Springboks as a whole. We will receive a warm welcome back home. Thank you all,” added Du Toit.
Captain Siya Kolisi becomes only the second captain to lift the Webb Ellis Cup twice, following New Zealand legend Richie McCaw in 2011 and 2015.
Meanwhile, devastated All Blacks captain Sam Cain said: “I’m very upset and disappointed, first of all the players had to play with 14 men for the last 50 minutes or so.
“I thought the courage they showed here tonight was incredible. The whole team is true warriors.
“It’s hard.”
occurrence
South Africa made a series of bold selection decisions, most notably splitting their bench 7-1 to field seven forwards as substitutes, a high-risk strategy that was only tempered by the versatility of several backs, including winger Cheslin Kolbe.
Veteran full-back Willy Le Roux was the only full-back to sit on the bench.
Pape de Klerk returned to the starting line-up, as did Handre Pollard.
Meanwhile, New Zealand coach Ian Foster made just one change to his starting line-up from the semi-finals, with Brodie Retalik replacing Sam Whitelock in the second row.
It took just minutes for the drama to flare up at the Stade de France. All Blacks back-rower Shannon Frizzell was shown a yellow card by the TMO for foul play after just three minutes, before turning wide in a clean-out and putting all his weight on hooker Bongi Mbonambi’s legs.
The South African player was injured in the incident and the team was in dire straits without another real hooker. However, Deon Forrie came off the bench and the team adapted well to the forced substitution, and South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard successfully converted a penalty to make it 3-0.
New Zealand, one man short, were forced to defend desperately after being forced into a self-imposed counterattack, and left winger Cheslyn Kolbe summed up the Springboks’ powerful and aggressive early approach with two superb cross-field kicks.
The latter was awarded a lineout in the Kiwi 22 in the 10th minute of play, and a second penalty was awarded minutes later when the All Blacks failed to roll over after a tackle.
Pollard made it 6-0 after 12 minutes, and Frizzell returned to the pitch. The referees decided he had tripped on an opponent’s leg rather than deliberately aiming at it, so his yellow card was not upgraded to a red.
But New Zealand soon got their score on target after Richie Mo’unga slotted the ball between the posts from close range, but South Africa struck back with a successful penalty after Ardi Savea failed to roll over.
South Africa’s physicality and line speed caused New Zealand plenty of problems for the first 20 minutes of the game, while the Springboks’ attacking line impressed despite the cold, rainy weather at the Stade de France.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks, who had won 97 per cent of their attacking lineouts leading up to the final, struggled on the sidelines early on, losing two set pieces in the first 30 minutes.
In the 29th minute, New Zealand captain and flanker Sam Kane also fired a high shot at South Africa’s Jesse Kriel, but it was upgraded to a red card because the shot was dangerous. The right arm made direct and strong contact with the head.
South Africa quickly took advantage of the extra player and won another penalty to go 12-3 ahead before the break.
But Mark Telea’s strike sparked New Zealand into a fightback and the All Blacks were awarded a penalty from inside their own 22-yard box to put them 12-6 ahead just before half-time.
Six minutes after the break, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was shown his third card of the game after firing a high shot at New Zealand’s Ardi Savea.
Despite its high risk, Colise’s card was not upgraded to red due to its mitigating factors.
The All Blacks looked to capitalise on this, with Richie Mo’unga producing a magical moment to break through the Springboks defence and set up Aaron Smith to score the first try of the final.
It was the first time South Africa had conceded a try in a World Cup final.
But New Zealand had a clear knock-on at the lineout before the try and the video referee ruled the try was disallowed.
But New Zealand kept the ball after converting another penalty from the same lineout and desperately tried to kick it for touchdown to claim their first try.
After a lineout, they stormed the South African line to win a second penalty, and again scored a touch kick to reach the five-metre lineout.
The South African captain returned to the pitch after the suspension but was unable to stop the All Blacks’ attack as the Kiwis finally crossed the finish line.
New Zealand won a penalty advantage at a lineout and eventually moved to the left of the field through Jody Barrett’s long pass, which his younger brother Beauden Barrett finished for a try.
He won two tackles with some great help from Mark Telea before finally getting the ball over to the fullback.
Mo’unga failed to score as the All Blacks missed their first chance to take the lead of the game, leaving the game level at 12-11 in South Africa’s favour.
But the All Blacks fought back despite being outnumbered, breaking through the lineout and dominating the territorial battle with excellent kicking and free-flowing attack.
Teams began to make a number of substitutions, with scrum-half Aaron Smith being pulled from the New Zealand squad, his illustrious international career over, and replaced by Finlay Christie.
The All Blacks also replaced their entire front row of De Groot, Taylor and Lomax.
South Africa’s attack struggled with the last 10 minutes of the game, with Cheslin Kolbe missing an unexpected long-range field goal attempt and not receiving treatment for a hamstring injury suffered minutes earlier.
And in the 72nd minute, the game was turned around when South African winger Kolbe was shown a yellow card for deliberately touching the ball 50 yards out from his own half, which resulted in the All Blacks missing a powerful opportunity to break down the right sideline.
South Africa failed to attempt a second drop goal in the 75th minute when fly-half Handre Pollard’s kick was superbly turned in by Savea.
But New Zealand couldn’t find a way to break through a superb South African defence as the Springboks won.
