2023 Rugby World Cup final explained

2023 Rugby World Cup final
Event:2023 Rugby World Cup
Team1:New Zealand
Team1association:
Team1score:11
Team2:South Africa
Team2score:12
Date:28 October 2023
City:Saint-Denis
Man Of The Match1a:Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
Man Of The Match1aname:Player of the match
Referee:Wayne Barnes (England)[1]
Attendance:80,065
Weather:Cloudy
15°C
82% humidity[2]
Previous:2019
Next:2027

The 2023 Rugby World Cup final was a rugby union match played on 28 October 2023 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France. It marked the culmination of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and was played between New Zealand and South Africa, with the latter winning by a single point to claim their fourth Webb Ellis Cup, becoming the first nation to do so.[3] South Africa became the first team to ever win back to back Rugby World Cup tournaments away from home, with Siya Kolisi the first ever captain to accomplish the away double.

New Zealand and South Africa last played in a Rugby World Cup final in 1995, which South Africa won 15–12. The two sides had met in five previous World Cup encounters with New Zealand winning three and South Africa winning two. This was the first time that both finalists had already lost a game during the World Cup. For New Zealand this was a record fifth appearance in a final, while South Africa made a fourth appearance and also entered having never lost in a final.[4] The final saw South Africa win a record fourth World Cup title, with both sides having already won the World Cup on three occasions.[3] [5]

Route to the final

New ZealandRoundSouth Africa
Pool APool stagePool B
OpponentResultOpponentResult
13–27Match 118–3
71–3Match 276–0
96–17Match 38–13
73–0Match 449–18
Final standing
OpponentResultKnockout stageOpponentResult
28–24Quarter-finals29–28
44–6Semi-finals16–15

New Zealand

New Zealand began their World Cup campaign with a defeat to hosts France in the opening match of the tournament.[6] They would put that result behind them as they went on to win by a considerable margin in all of their remaining pool matches to qualify for the knockout stage, with a 71–3 victory over Namibia,[7] 96–17 against Italy,[8] and 73–0 against Uruguay.[9] In the quarter-finals, New Zealand faced Pool B winners and number 1 ranked in the world Ireland, where they came out winners in a tight affair with a scoreline of 28–24.[10] In the semi-final at the Stade de France, New Zealand played Argentina, where The All Blacks defeated Los Pumas 44–6[11] to reach their fifth Rugby World Cup final, a record as they went ahead of Australia and England who had both reached four finals. The All Blacks were also looking for their record fourth Rugby World Cup title, having won in 1987 followed by victories in 2011 and 2015.

South Africa

Defending champions South Africa had reached what was their fourth Rugby World Cup final following a spell of tight margins in the lead up. The Springboks had managed to breeze through Pool B, where despite falling at the Ireland hurdle in a 13–8 defeat,[12] they secured victories over Scotland,[13] Romania,[14] and Tonga[15] to finish second in the pool and advance to the knockout stage. In the quarter-finals, they faced the hosts France, who had topped Pool A ahead of New Zealand. In a World Cup thriller at the Stade de France, South Africa overcame their French counterparts with a 29–28 victory.[16] In the semi-final, South Africa played England, in a repeat of the 2007 and 2019 final. In another tight affair in Saint-Denis, South Africa completed a comeback through a late Handré Pollard penalty to win 16–15[17] and advance to their fourth Rugby World Cup final where they would attempt to defend their trophy.

Match

Summary

First half

In the 2nd minute, New Zealand's Shannon Frizell received a yellow card for falling on top of the leg of Bongi Mbonambi. Mbonambi was forced off for the remainder of the match with a knee injury.[18] South Africa went on to take a 6–0 lead with two penalties converted by Handré Pollard before Richie Mo'unga scored for New Zealand with a penalty after 17 minutes. Pollard scored another penalty two minutes later to make it 9–3.[19] In the 28th minute, New Zealand's captain Sam Cane was given a yellow card for a high shoulder tackle to the head of South Africa's Jesse Kriel which was later upgraded to a red card after a bunker review.[20] Pollard scored another penalty in the 34th minute before Mo'unga replied with his second penalty to leave the score 12–6 at half-time.[21]

Second half

In the 45th minute, South African captain Siya Kolisi received a yellow card for a head high tackle on Ardie Savea which was also reviewed for a potential red card. On review, it remained a yellow card. The high tackle was near identical to the earlier high tackle by Cane and the inconsistent decision not to upgrade the Kolisi card was met with furious jeers from the crowd.[22] In the 54th minute, New Zealand thought that they had scored a try. Aaron Smith went over the try line in the left corner. However, the TMO review showed that the ball had been knocked on by Ardie Savea before it was released from the initial lineout.[23] However, the knock-on happened four phases before the try, and the TMO only had the power to look back two phases for any knock-on in the buildup to a try. This officiating error was not publicly acknowledged, though World Rugby subsequently has privately acknowledged that the ruling out of Smith's try was outside the rules.[24] They did get a try in the 58th minute. Beauden Barrett went over the try line on the left after an offload from Mark Tele'a. Richie Mo'unga missed the conversion from the left that would have put New Zealand in front. With 7 minutes to go, Cheslin Kolbe received a yellow card for a deliberate knock on and New Zealand missed the critical penalty to seal their victory. South Africa held on to win 12–11 and claim their fourth World Cup title.[25]

Details

FB 15
RW 14
OC 13Rieko Ioane
IC 12Jordie Barrett
LW 11Mark Tele'a
FH 10
SH 9
N8 8 Ardie Savea
OF 7 Sam Cane (c)
BF 6
RL 5 Scott Barrett
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
FL 20
SH 21
FB 22
CE 23
Coach:
Ian Foster
FB 15
RW 14Kurt-Lee Arendse
OC 13Jesse Kriel
IC 12Damian de Allende
LW 11
FH 10Handré Pollard
SH 9 Faf de Klerk
N8 8
BF 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
OF 6 Siya Kolisi (c)
RL 5
LL 4
TP 3
HK 2
LP 1
Replacements:
HK 16
PR 17
PR 18
LK 19
LK 20
FL 21
N8 22
FB 23
Coach:
Jacques Nienaber
Player of the Match:
Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)[26]

Assistant referees:
Karl Dickson (England)
Matthew Carley (England)
Television match official:
Tom Foley (England)
Reserve official:
Luke Pearce (England)

Notes:

Statistics

Overall[35]
width=150width=90New Zealandwidth=90South Africa
Tries 1 0
Conversions 0 0
Penalties
(attempts)
2(3) 4(4)
Drop goals
(attempts)
0(0) 0(4)
Match stats
Territory 53% 47%
Possession 60% 40%
Attacking
Metres made 459 360
Offloads 5 7
Carries crossed gainline 66 37
Kicks from hand 34 38
Passes 221 84
Runs 149 85
Defending
Tackles 92 209
Tackles missed 14 37
Turnovers won 2 7
Rucks won 115 56
Mauls won 3 2
Set pieces
Scrums
(won/lost)
(2/0) (10/1)
Line-outs
(won/lost)
(20/2) (6/4)
Discipline
Yellow cards 1 2
Red cards 1 0
Penalties conceded 5 10

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wayne Barnes to referee Rugby World Cup 2023 final.
  2. Web site: Bonneuil-en-France, Val-d'Oise, France Weather History . . 28 October 2023 . 31 October 2023 .
  3. News: 2023-10-21 . World Cup 2023 final . en . Reuters . 2023-10-22.
  4. News: 2023-10-27 . Boks expect 'grind' against All Black rivals in World Cup final . en . . 2023-10-27.
  5. Web site: An amazing achievement' - reaction after South Africa win fourth World Cup. 28 October 2023. BBC Sport. 1 November 2023.
  6. Web site: Mike. Henson. Hosts record impressive opening World Cup win over three-time champions. 8 September 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  7. Web site: All Blacks run in 11 tries but Ethan de Groot sent off. 15 September 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  8. Web site: Joe. Rindl. All Blacks move to cusp of Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. 29 September 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  9. Web site: Alastair. Telfer. All Blacks reach quarter-finals with 11-try win. 5 October 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  10. Web site: Matt. Gault. All Blacks break Irish hearts and set up Argentina semi-final. 14 October 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  11. Web site: Mantej. Mann. All Blacks cruise into record fifth final. 20 October 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  12. Web site: Matt. Gault. Irish earn statement World Cup win over holders in Paris. 23 September 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  13. Web site: Thomas. Duncan. Springboks too strong for Scots in Rugby World Cup opener. 10 September 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  14. Web site: Joe. Rindl. Cobus Reinach scores second-fastest World Cup hat-trick. 17 September 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  15. Web site: Alastair. Telfer. World champions edge towards quarter-finals with bonus-point win. 1 October 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  16. Web site: Mantej. Mann. Defending champions overcome hosts in World Cup thriller. 15 October 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  17. Web site: Mike. Henson. Springboks fightback settles World Cup semi-final. 21 October 2023. 24 October 2023. BBC Sport.
  18. Web site: South Africa's Bongi Mbonambi suffers Rugby World Cup final heartbreak with injury. 28 October 2023. The Independent. 1 November 2023.
  19. News: AINSWORTH . IMOGEN . NEW ZEALAND 11-12 SOUTH AFRICA: SPRINGBOKS CLAIM RECORD FOURTH WORLD CUP WITH NARROW WIN OVER 14-MAN ALL BLACKS . 29 October 2023 . . 28 October 2023.
  20. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2023 final: New Zealand & South Africa's rivalry and history. 23 October 2023. BBC Sport. 26 October 2023.
  21. Web site: South Africa 12 New Zealand 11 as it happened: Springboks see off brave effort from 14-man All Blacks by minimum. 28 October 2023. Irish Independent. 1 November 2023.
  22. Web site: Five quick hits — Red card drama rocks Springboks victory over All Blacks in Rugby World Cup final after Sam Cane, Siya Kolisi cards . Simon . Smale . 29 October 2023 . . 15 August 2024 .
  23. Web site: Rugby World Cup final: Springboks retain World Cup after thriller with New Zealand. 28 October 2023. RTE Sport. 1 November 2023.
  24. Web site: World Rugby concedes All Blacks' disallowed try in Rugby World Cup final should have stood . Paul . Cully . 14 November 2023 . . 15 August 2024 .
  25. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2023 final: New Zealand 11-12 South Africa – as it happened. 28 October 2023. Guardian. 1 November 2023.
  26. News: NZL 11-12 RSA: South Africa win tense final to claim fourth Rugby World Cup . www.rugbyworldcup.com . . 28 October 2023 . 28 October 2023.
  27. Web site: Rugby World Cup 2023: Why does victory mean more to South Africa? . . 30 October 2023.
  28. News: South Africa beat New Zealand to win men’s Rugby World Cup final . www.theguardian.com . . 28 October 2023 . 28 October 2023.
  29. News: South Africa become kings of rugby with dramatic World Cup win over greatest rivals . independent.co.uk . . 29 October 2023 . 29 October 2023.
  30. News: Sam Cane becomes first player to be red carded in Rugby World Cup final . www.planetrugby.com . . 28 October 2023 . 28 October 2023.
  31. News: Rugby World Cup 2023 final, South Africa beat New Zealand, yellow cards, history, news, reacton, Sam Cane red card . www.foxsports.com.au . Fox Sports Australia . 28 October 2023 . 28 October 2023.
  32. News: Springboks defending Rugby World Cup title against All Blacks in rare final showdown . www.apnews.com . . 26 October 2023 . 28 October 2023.
  33. News: Rugby World Cup final referee and match officials confirmed . www.planetrugby.com . . 23 October 2023 . 23 October 2023.
  34. News: Rugby World Cup 2023 final: New Zealand v South Africa - the incredible Barrett brothers . www.bbc.co.uk/sport . . 26 October 2023 . 28 October 2023.
  35. Web site: New Zealand v South Africa . 30 October 2023 . World Rugby .