South Africa wins its fourth world title at the expense of New Zealand

Published on: 10/28/2023 – 11:07 PM

5 minutes

The All Blacks' executioners are in and they are the Springboks. After a very elaborate confrontation against New Zealand (12-11), South Africa retained its world title, after its previous victory in 2019, and at the same time achieved the fourth crown in its history on Saturday, October 28, at Stadium Stadium. de france.

Both teams started the final tense-filled in delicate playing conditions due to rain, which was quickly marked by a yellow card for Frizelle after a serious collision with Mbonambi's knee. Handre Pollard opened the scoring for the Springboks thanks to a penalty kick from 25 meters that rebounded positively off the post (3rd place, 0-3). Led by Etzebeth, South Africa pressed the midfield before sending a long cross towards Kolbe on the wing, which was controlled by Monga (8th position).

The Bucs dominated the start of the match, almost giving way to the New Zealand defense thanks to a carried ball, before Pollard intercepted a few meters from the goal line and awarded them a new penalty kick (13, 0-6). Back at 15 to 15 after Frizzell returned to the field, the All Blacks found some advantage with a good sequence against the South African defence, concluded with a kick from Jordie Barrett for Savea, who was very close to slotting the ball home without even getting a shot. Unfavorable bounce by Willemse (16th place).

Monga succeeded in reducing the score directly after a mistake by South Africa (17, 3-6), and then he was followed by Pollard, who passed the ball just over the crossbar (19, 3-9). In an adventurous but imprecise spirit, the two teams faced each other's defensive line without being able to score the first try of the match. The All Blacks were dealt a blow by the red card received by their captain Sam Keane for a poor tackle, which certainly marked the turning point of this final (34th place). After failing to find the way for the first attempt in this closed match, Pollard managed to worsen the score for South Africa by scoring a new penalty kick (34, 3-12).

The New Zealanders were forced to score in order not to lose the thread of this final, and they accelerated the pace by creating spaces in the South African camp thanks to Telia and Ioane, who failed to touch the ball a few meters from the goal line (37). Monga then pulled one back from the penalty spot after a foul by Itzith (38, 6-12) to conclude a first period in which the Springboks managed to perfection in numerical superiority on two occasions and where errors could have cost them the All Blacks. Much more expensive.

The All Blacks' comeback was not enough

The Boks finally thought they had found the bug after half-time with a breakthrough from their captain Kolisi, who stopped on the right wing a few meters from the line (42nd). They then came close to scoring the first try of the match after a good rebound was picked up at the end of the run by Arendse in front of Beauden Barrett, but it was disallowed for a touch of his foot (45th). Just like the New Zealand captain, Siya Kolisi in turn received a yellow card and returned to the dugout after a head-on collision with Savea (46th).

Despite their numerical weakness, the Lions continued to push in front of the Bucs line to get back in front, but their attempt failed after an errant pass from Monga to Jordan (52nd minute). Thanks to relentless perseverance, the New Zealanders were finally able to score a try thanks to a brilliant individual number from Mo'unga who snaked through the South Africans to finally dispatch Smith (54th over). But this was immediately canceled by the referee due to a striker from Savea at the beginning of the match (55th place).

They attacked again to capitalize on the highlight reel for over 15 minutes and finally found the light thanks to Beauden Barrett who went flat in the corner to put them in closer contact than ever with Bucs (58, 11-12), without going back in front after Failed conversion by Mwanga, very awkward on the left (59th place). Under pressure, the South African defense held up well from the 60th minute on against multiple attacks from the All Blacks.

Cheslin Colby received a yellow card at the end of the match (73rd minute), putting the two teams in 14th place against 14 until the end of the match. But Jordie Barrett missed the winning penalty kick from 40 meters (74), leaving the Black team slightly behind its rival until the final whistle.

South Africa are the only team to have won a World Cup final over the All Blacks in 1995, and they did so again and lifted the Webb-Ellis Cup for the second time in a row, bringing the number of world titles they have won in their history to four (1995, 2007). , 2019 and 2023). South Africa has never been defeated in a World Cup final.