New Zealand 11-12 South Africa: Springboks claim record fourth World Cup with narrow win over 14-man All Blacks

Handre Pollard, who wasn’t named in the Springboks’ initial Rugby World Cup squad, scored all of South Africa’s points to retain their RWC title in Paris with an 12-11 win over New Zealand.

Both slides suffered an early blow in Paris as a dangerous clear out at the ruck from Shannon Frizell not only saw him awarded a yellow card, but additionally saw Mbongeni Mbonambi leave the field after only 90 seconds. Mbonambi returned to the sidelines later in the match to warm up with the other substitutes.

Pollard stepped up to put South Africa ahead with the subsequent penalty and the Springboks had an early 3-0 lead. The Leicester Tigers fly-half put boot to ball 10 minutes later to give South Africa a six-point advantage.

With Frizell back on the pitch from his yellow card New Zealand looked threatening in attack. Barrett sent the ball skyward for Ardie Savea, but the ball bounced kindly for full-back Damian Willemse.

New Zealand then had their own shot at goal after a high tackle and Richie Mo’unga moved the All Blacks to within three points with 17 minutes on the clock. Pollard swiftly replied with another penalty to make the score 9-3 to South Africa after the first 20 minutes.

New Zealand Sam Cane was shown a yellow card after his shoulder made head contact with Jesse Kriel before half an hour had passed. The decision was sent for an off-field review, and minutes later Cane became the first male player to be shown a red card in a RWC final as the card was upgraded to a red.

Pollard added three more as New Zealand were penalised at the breakdown in the 34th minute, the kick that would win them the match. Before the stroke of half-time Mo’unga added three points to New Zealand’s scoreline to take them into the break down 6-12.

South Africa came out of the blocks rapidly in the second half and an early passage of possession saw Kurt-Lee Arendse almost get over the line successfully had it not been for his foot being in touch.

The Springboks lost their captain Siya Kolisi to a yellow card as he was the next player who made head contact in a tackle, but his card was not upgraded and he returned to the pitch 10 minutes later.

Aaron Smith looked to have got the first try after just over 10 minutes of the second half, but a knock-on in the build-up meant New Zealand had to wait a little longer. Within minutes the score was delivered by Beauden Barrett who gathered a loose ball from Mark Tele’a that had gone backwards by the smallest of margins to dive over the line and pull New Zealand to within a point. Mo’unga missed the conversion and the score would remain that way until the final whistle as South Africa remained strong in defence.

Before the match was up, Cheslin Kolbe was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. Jordie Barrett stepped up to take his first kick of the match, another that would have but New Zealand ahead, but the long-range effort missed the target despite having the length needed.

South Africa held on despite a tense final few minutes and became the first men’s team to win four RWC titles, and only the second to have retained their title from the RWC before. They have never been beaten in a RWC final, and continue to be the only team who have beaten the All Blacks at that stage, now for the second time.

South Africa’s win in Paris made them the first men’s team to win the Rugby World Cup four times, and only the second to defend a title from the tournament before. They won by a point in the quarter-final, semi-final, and the final with Pollard kicking the eventual winning points in both. Pollard only joined with South Africa squad on the 18th September after he missed out initial selection.

He was awarded a place due to Malcom Marx’s injury, and coaches were questioned at the time whether it was wise to bring in a back to replace the gap in the squad left by Marx.

Pollard’s impact has been invaluable and was most definitely a wise inclusion in the squad. South Africa remain unbeaten in RWC finals, winning all four they have competed in, and are the only team to have ever beaten the All Blacks at this stage.

A dominant performance from the back row, which saw him put in 28 tackles, the highest of any player in the match. He had an 88% success rate, only missing three. A barnstorming match in defence was a key element that kept South Africa in the game. Pollard also deserves a mention for scoring all of the points and controlling the match well.

New Zealand: B. Barrett 6, Jordan 4, Ioane 5, J. Barrett 5, Tele’a 6, Mo’unga 5, Smith 5; De Groot 4, Taylor 4, Lomax 4, Retallick 4, S. Barrett 5, Frizell 2, Cane 2(capt.) 2, Savea 6.

Replacements: Taukei’aho 4, Williams 4, Laulala 4, Whitelock 4, Papali’i 4, Christie 4, McKenzie 4, Lienert-Brown 4

South Africa XV: Willemse 9, Arendse 8, Kriel 8, De Allende 8, Kolbe 7, Pollard 9, De Klerk 9; Kitshoff 8, Mbonambi (n/a), Malherbe 8, Etzebeth 8, Mostert 8, Kolisi (capt.) 7.5, Du Toit 9, Vermeulen 8.

Replacements: Fourie 8, Nche 9, Nyakane 8, Kleyn 8, Snyman 8, Smith 8, Wiese 8, Le Roux 8 .

2’ – Shannon Frizell is shown a yellow card

3’ – Handre Pollard opens the scoring for South Africa with penalty

13’ – Pollard adds a second penalty

17’ – Richie Mo’unga successfully kicks South Africa’s first penalty of the match

19’ – Pollard adds a third penalty

28’ – Sam Cane is shown a yellow card, later upgraded to a red

34’ – Pollard kicks South Africa’s winning points, a fourth penalty

38’ – Mo’unga adds his second before half time.

Half-time – New Zealand 6 – 12 South Africa

59’ – Beauden Barrett scores the only try of the match, the conversion is missed.

73′ – Jordie Barrett misses a penalty.

Full time – New Zealand 11 – 12 South Africa

• Sam Cane becomes the first male player to be red carded in a RWC final.
• Barrett’s try was the first South Africa have ever conceded at a RWC final.
• South Africa maintain their 100% success rate in RWC finals, and are the first men’s team to win four. They have now won four out of the eight RWCs that they have competed at.
• 14 players in the South Africa squad join Os du Randt (1995 and 2007) and Frans Steyn (2007 and 2019) as the only South African players to win two RWC titles (Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Steven Kitshoff, Franco Mostert, Willie Le Roux, RG Snyman).
• South Africa won their quarter-final, semi-final, and final of RWC 2023 by a single point.