- Date: Saturday October 28, 20:00 BST
- Location: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris, France
- Teams: New Zealand vs South Africa
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Springboks take on All Blacks in final
The two most successful nations in the history of the Rugby World Cup will meet in the 2023 World Cup. Only four nations – England, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa – have won the coveted Webb Ellis Cup since the Rugby World Cup’s inception in 1987.
New Zealand vs South Africa: Previous World Cup Meetings
The two sides have since met on four occasions at the Rugby World Cup with the All Blacks coming out on top in three of these encounters. South Africa beat the New Zealanders in the bronze-medal match at the 1999 edition.
New Zealand beat the Springboks in the quarter-finals (29-9) in 2003, and in the semi-finals (20-18) in 2015 en route to winning their second consecutive title. The All Blacks again triumphed over their Southern Hemisphere counterparts in the pool match at the 2019 World Cup in Japan. South Africa brushed off the defeat to become the first nation to lose a pool match and go on to win the title.
New Zealand
New Zealand will go into a fifth Rugby World Cup final in their history after a convincing 44-6 victory over Argentina. Having edged past Ireland in a titanic quarter-final contest, the semi-final win over the Pumas was a lot more straightforward, with the All Blacks being a class above throughout.
Wing Will Jordan, centre Jordie Barrett and flanker Shannon Frizell went over for New Zealand in the first half of the semi-final clash, while scrum-half Aaron Smith, Frizell and Jordan – the latter completing his hat-trick – added four second-half tries.
Jordan made history in reaching eight tries in a World Cup, as he drew level with the record shared by Jonah Lomu, Bryan Habana and Julian Savea.
Lock Brodie Retallick replaces Sam Whitelock as the Kiwis make one change to their starting side for the World Cup final against South Africa.
New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo’unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Retallick, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.
Replacements: Taukei’aho, Williams, Laulala, Whitelock, Papalii, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.
South Africa
South Africa have been in great form for most of the tournament. They may have lost out to Ireland in their pool match in a high quality game, but came through the other pool matches impressively, play some great rugby and showing impressive strength in depth. They edged out the hosts, France, in a fantastic quarter final.
In the semi-final their power in the scrummage overcame England, who fell agonisingly short of a huge upset. England’s kicking game had the Springboks in trouble but a number of changes in the second half saw a stirring comeback, with England 15-6 up.
A RG Snyman try 10 minutes from time cut the underdogs’ lead to 15-13 before the South African power in the scrum won a penalty, which Handre Pollard sent home to win the match and send his team to the final.
Hooker Bongi Mbonambi will against New Zealand following a ruling that found “insufficient evidence” for his alleged use of a racial slur towards England’s Tom Curry.
South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Nyakane, Kleyn, Snyman, Smith, Wiese, Le Roux.
Prediction
The final will undoubtedly be a high quality affair. New Zealand’s less demanding semi-final, plus an extra 24 hours rest makes them favourites. We predict a close game but a win for the All Blacks.
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