South Africa wins World Cup final thriller after red card madness
South Africa has made history with an insane World Cup final win after New Zealand had earlier suffered a crushing red card blow.
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There was one word that kept getting tossed around after South Africa’s epic victory in the Rugby World Cup final thriller on Sunday morning — “Insane”.
The Springboks held on for a 12-11 victory over New Zealand to become the first country to win the Rugby World Cup four times.
The defending champs will reign over the world for another four years after a nail-biting final that went right down to the final whistle at the Stade de France in Paris.
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The Springboks held on against a brave All Blacks team that played 50 minutes without their captain.
It was a final of high drama as the match was rocked by three yellow cards and the crushing blow for the All Blacks of having skipper Sam Cane given a red card in the first half.
Cane was upright in a tackle with his shoulder hitting Jesse Kriel in the face. He was sent from the field under a yellow card. But that decision was reviewed and ultimately came back red, making it the first ever red card to be handed out during a World Cup final.
South Africa achieved the ultimate goal like no other team has before with three knockout final wins all by just one point.
South Africa downed hosts France by one point in the quarter-finals and then defeated England by one point in the semi-final.
“That’s insane,” Channel 9’s Alanna Ferguson said.
South Africa back-rower Pieter-Steph du Toit was named man of the match for some bruising tackles.
“The last three games have been quite tough. Each one we’ve played as a final and each one was by one point, so it was tough for us and we’re happy with the win.
“For all of South Africa, we’re honoured to be able to play for you guys and play for the Springboks. I know when we go back home it’s going to be a warm welcome for us.”
Despite the team’s costly discipline blunders, the All Blacks have lost no respect.
Despite being down to 14 men for 60 minutes, the Kiwis very nearly stole it.
South African captain Siya Kolisi after the game said the All Blacks took his team to a “dark place”.
“There are no ways I can explain it. I want to give credit to the All Blacks,” he said.
“They took us to the end, they took us to a dark place. It shows what kind of team they are, to fight with a man down from early in the game. They put us under so much pressure.”
All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens was among the lost of rugby commentators defending Cane for the tackle that may have cost New Zealand the Cup.
“I am proud of them and it was an awesome effort,” Mehrtens said on the BBC.
“The All Blacks had some opportunities and they let nobody down. They kept giving it a go and the country will be proud of them and not angry — they were awesome.
“Sam Cane is not notorious for being a dirty player, he makes hard tackles but legal. On another occasion that might not be a red card, he had led by example and has nothing to be ashamed about.”
Cane did address the incident after the final whistle.
“Obviously extremely gutted and disappointed,” he said.
“First of all, the fact that the boys had to play with 14 men for the last 50-odd minutes. I thought the courage that they showed out there was incredible. The whole team are absolute warriors.
“Look, it’s tough. I’d like to say well done to South Africa, back to back. They have had a heck of a tough road to the final and they have shown time and time again that they find a way to win, well done South Africa.”
While the All Blacks were undeniably brave, there were none who could say the South Africans didn’t deserve the win.
Handre Pollard kicked four penalties — and it was all they needed as the match became battle of attrition in wet conditions.
8.05am — History made as South Africa wins thriller
South Africa has held on with some late scrum drama to win the 2023 World Cup.
The Springbok held on after New Zealand had attempted to go cost to coast in the dying minutes.
In the end it was a knock-on pass from Ardie Savea that gave South Africa possession in the final minute. They held on with a final scrum win.
7.55am - Yellow card turns match on its head
Jordie Barrett has missed a long-range penalty attempt with just six minutes to play.
Barrett’s kick from 49m went wide of the goals.
Cheslin Kolbe was the man who coughed up the scoring opportunity after deliberately knocking the ball down as New Zealand launched a raid down the wing.
The TMO reviewed footage and gave the Springbok a yellow card.
7.30am - They simply wouldn’t be denied
Beauden Barrett has crossed the line after the All Blacks just kept the pressure up and eventually found a way through.
Despite being a man down they’ve flipped this game on its head.
7.25am - All Blacks piece of magic cruelly denied
A highlight reel moment from the All Blacks has been wiped away after the TMO came into effect.
Richie Mo’unga crossed with a stunning try, but the play got started from a line drop out with the TMO picking up a minor knock on.
The ball fell into the hands of Ardie Savea who knocked the ball on before recollecting it and getting the play going.
New Zealand end up with the ball following a penalty but it’s heart break for the All Blacks with the try being taken away.
“No knock-on†but when you score 45 secs later we’ll confirm a knock-on! #farcical
— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) October 28, 2023
7.20am - South Africa stop All Blacks surge
The defensive structure of the Springboks has come up big once more after the All Blacks surged towards the line.
A quick offload and change of direction looked like it may have caught the defensive line off guard but it wasn’t to be as South Africa stopped another charge.
Not only did they get the stop, they came away with the ball and now only have a few minutes to go before Siya Kolisi returns to give them a one-man advantage.
7.15am - Siya Kolisi sent off
A big hit from South African skipper Siya Kolisi resulted in him being shown a yellow card with proceedings levelled up at 14-men apiece.
After Cane was shown red in the opening half it’ll be interesting to see how they judge Kolisi’s hit that resulted in head-on-head contact after an upright tackle.
7.10am - South Africa taking advantage
The second half is underway and the Springboks are piling on the pressure against the 14-man All Blacks outfit.
Possession has been spent deep in New Zealand’s territory with the Kiwis defending for their lives to keep it within only six points.
Kurt-Lee Arendse came agonisingly close to scoring the opening try but couldn’t keep a hold of the ball as he dove over the line.
6.55am - Kiwi skipper handed red card
Real trouble now for the All Blacks with skipper Sam Cane’s night done.
Cane was upright in a tackle with his shoulder hitting Jesse Kriel in the face. He was sent from the field under a yellow card.
It was reviewed and ultimately came back red, making it the first ever red card to be handed out during a World Cup final.
After being shown the card Cane cut a dishevelled figure as his face fell into his hands. The All Blacks will now be down to 14 men for the remainder of the contest.
Sam Cane is GONE! 🤯
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) October 28, 2023
The All Blacks skipper has his yellow card upgraded to a red! 🟥#NZLvRSA | Live on 9Gem and 9Now#9WWOS#RWC2023#RWCFinalpic.twitter.com/YWWaUIz812
Shortly after the red card the All Blacks looked like they were set to score the opening try of the contest just before the halftime break only for Kurt-Lee Arendse to produce a try-saving tackle and snuff out the chance.
Kurt-Lee Arendse with a stunning try-saving tackle just before the break 🤯#RWC2023 | #RWCFinalpic.twitter.com/x8A8crROi6
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 28, 2023
6.30am - All Blacks peg the score back
They went oh so close to scoring the opening try of the World Cup final, but ultimately the All Blacks settled for a penalty kick and brought the lead back to 6-3.
Sadly only moments later it was another penalty against the All Blacks which Handre Pollard gratefully accepted as he scored his ninth point of the contest.
6.15am - Springboks hit the scoreboard first
A monster hit from Eben Etzebeth resulted in a yellow card after he clobbered Mbongeni Mbonambi.
South Africa took advantage with Handre Pollard kicking for the posts and getting the score started with three points.
Pollard doubled up minutes later after another penalty against the All Blacks just under the posts.
HUGE HIT FROM EBEN ETZEBETH!!!💥#NZLvRSA#RWCFinalpic.twitter.com/fPffYrFuvE
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 28, 2023
History beckons for rugby’s ‘greatest foes’
Defending champions South Africa expect Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final against “greatest foes” New Zealand to be a “grind” as both teams eye what would be a record fourth tournament title.
The Springboks and All Blacks share an unparalleled rivalry in the oval-ball sport and have reached the final at the Stade de France thanks largely to dramatic, quarter-final victories over France and Ireland, both of whom were fancied to make the latter stages.
After northern hemisphere teams finished atop all four pools, hopes were high that the Webb Ellis Cup would go to Europe for the first time since England in 2003.
But that was not to be. Wales joined France and Ireland for an early shower after falling to Argentina – who went down to New Zealand in the semi-finals – and England lost to the Boks in their last-four clash.
England claimed third place with a 26-23 victory over Los Pumas on Friday.
So once again the Cup will head southward, to one of the two teams that has already won three times.
South Africa have never lost a World Cup final, winning the 1995, 2007 and 2019 editions, but coach Jacques Nienaber predicts a tight final, a “grind”.
New Zealand won in 1987, 2011 and 2015, but lost that 1995 final to the Springboks in a moment made special by Nelson Mandela’s rallying call as South Africa embarked on its arduous voyage away from the dark days of apartheid.
“This is what we live for, it’s about the people who are dreaming to be in our position in the communities back in South Africa,” said assistant coach Mzwandile Stick.
“We just want to do everything in our power to make sure we are reuniting those people.”
Nienaber, whose Boks lost 13-8 to Ireland in pool play, said a final pitching the two rivals together “will never happen in our lifetime again”.
“The All Blacks have won the World Cup three times, we have won it three times, so this game is almost bigger than just a World Cup final,” added Stick.
“Whoever wins is going to have bragging rights for the next four years.”
All Blacks coach Ian Foster, whose team went down 27-13 to hosts France in the opening game of the tournament in early September, added that the final featured “two teams who have been old foes for a long time”.
“We all remember the last final between us (in 1995), which was an epic, and hopefully this one will be the same. Then you do the maths and we’ve got three World Cups each and someone is going to win four, so it’s a special occasion, isn’t it?”
— AFP
Originally published as South Africa wins World Cup final thriller after red card madness
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