October 29, (THEWILL) – The Springboks of South Africa made history on Sunday, by winning their third Rugby World Cup title in a dramatic final against New Zealand at Stade de France. In soggy conditions, Siya Kolisi’s men defended their crown from 2019, cementing South Africa’s status as the dominant force in world rugby.
The match was always going to be an almighty clash between the two great rivals, who were meeting at the World Cup for the first time in 16 years. With thunderous tackles and intense physicality from the start, it lived up to expectations despite the wet conditions. Both sides belted out passionate renditions of their anthems in a charged atmosphere befitting the occasion. It was an epic contest that will be remembered as a tale of two captains, with Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis Cup again while All Blacks skipper Sam Cane endured a nightmarish evening.
There was little between the sides until Cane was sent off in the 27th minute for a dangerous tackle on Jesse Kriel. It was a huge moment, the first red card in a World Cup final, that left New Zealand down to 14 men for the rest of the match. South Africa also had to play with 14 men for 10 minutes in the second half when Kolisi was sin-binned, which sparked an All Blacks fightback. But the Springboks held firm with Handré Pollard’s flawless kicking and Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit leading the way.
New Zealand thought they had scored through Aaron Smith but it was ruled out for a knock-on before Beauden Barrett crossed legally just before the hour mark to set up a grandstand finish. The world champion Springboks kept their composure though, with Pollard landing a late penalty to seal a famous one-point win. It made South Africa just the second team after New Zealand in 2015 to successfully defend their World Cup title.
In the end, South Africa’s courage and resilience made the difference. They won all three of their knockout games by a single point, overcoming injuries and adversity each time. Cane and his All Blacks will be devastated, but Kolisi and his men have entered the history books again.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
