By: ANG Reporter In a heart-pounding showdown at the Stade de France, South Africa emerged triumphant in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, narrowly edging out New Zealand with a final score of 12-11. The match, filled with tension and drama, took an unexpected turn as New Zealand’s captain, Sam Cane, received a yellow card early on, which was later upgraded to a red card in the first half.
Handre Pollard, initially absent from the Springboks’ initial Rugby World Cup squad, took center stage by scoring all 12 of South Africa’s crucial points, securing their RWC title in the captivating clash in Paris.
The game started with an early setback for both sides in Paris when Shannon Frizell’s dangerous ruck clearout resulted in a yellow card, and Mbongeni Mbonambi was forced to leave the field after only 90 seconds. However, Mbonambi returned later in the match to warm up with the substitutes. Pollard seized the opportunity to put South Africa ahead with a subsequent penalty, giving the Springboks an early 3-0 lead. Ten minutes later, the Leicester Tigers fly-half extended the lead with another well-placed kick, making it 6-0.
With Frizell back on the field after his yellow card, New Zealand launched threatening attacks. Beauden Barrett sent a high kick for Ardie Savea, but it fortuitously bounced into the hands of full-back Damian Willemse. New Zealand soon had their chance to score with a penalty due to a high tackle, and Richie Mo’unga narrowed the gap to three points after 17 minutes.
Pollard swiftly responded with another penalty, increasing South Africa’s lead to 9-3 within the first 20 minutes. A pivotal moment came when New Zealand’s Sam Cane was shown a yellow card for making head contact with Jesse Kriel before the half-hour mark. The decision underwent an off-field review, resulting in Cane becoming the first male player to receive a red card in an RWC final.
Pollard extended South Africa’s lead with three more points in the 34th minute, a kick that ultimately secured their victory. Just before halftime, Mo’unga added three points to New Zealand’s tally, leaving them trailing 6-12. The second half began with South Africa on the attack, and Kurt-Lee Arendse came close to scoring, but his foot touched the touchline, denying him a try.
South Africa temporarily lost their captain, Siya Kolisi, to a yellow card for a head-high tackle, but he returned after 10 minutes. Aaron Smith seemed to secure New Zealand’s first try, but a knock-on in the buildup delayed their celebration. Moments later, Beauden Barrett capitalized on a loose ball from Mark Tele’a, diving over the line to bring New Zealand within one point. However, Mo’unga missed the conversion, leaving the score at 11-12 until the final whistle, with South Africa standing strong in defense.
In the dying minutes of the match, Cheslin Kolbe received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Jordie Barrett had a chance to put New Zealand ahead with a long-range kick, but it missed the target.
South Africa held on in the intense final moments, becoming the first men’s team to secure four RWC titles and only the second to defend their title. They have never lost a RWC final and remain the only team to have beaten the All Blacks at this stage, now accomplishing it for the second time. South Africa’s victory in Paris established them as the first men’s team to win the Rugby World Cup four times, with Pollard’s late inclusion in the squad proving invaluable.
Despite initial doubts about his selection to replace the injured Malcolm Marx, Pollard played a pivotal role, sealing victory in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final with crucial kicks. South Africa’s unbeaten record in RWC finals continues, marking a historic achievement in rugby history.
Pieter-Steph Du Toit delivered a dominant performance in the back row, recording an astounding 28 tackles, the highest of any player in the match, with an 88% success rate, missing only three. His stellar defensive efforts were a crucial factor in South Africa’s victory. Handre Pollard also deserves recognition for scoring all of South Africa’s points and orchestrating the match effectively.
