New Zealand v South Africa LIVE: Rugby World Cup final score and result as Springboks beat All Blacks in Paris
The Springboks won a historic fourth Rugby World Cup with a tense one-point victory over the All Blacks in Paris
South Africa hung on to beat New Zealand in a tense 2023 Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris, and in doing so they became the first men’s side to win the tournament for a fourth time.
The All Blacks entered the contest as slight favourites following a comprehensive 44-6 victory against Argentina, while the Springboks reached Saturday’s showpiece event after a last-minute penalty secured them a narrow 16-15 win over England.
South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi suffered a nightmare start to the match as a knee injury forced the hooker off after only four minutes, four years after he lasted only 20 minutes in the 2019 World Cup final. New Zealand’s Shannon Frizell was shown a yellow card for causing Mbonambi’s injury, but worse was to come for the All Blacks when captain Sam Cane was sent off for a dangerous tackle on the Springboks’ Jesse Kriel, and South Africa led 12-6 at half-time.
A Beauden Barrett try pulled New Zealand back to within one point of their rivals, but the All Blacks couldn’t find anything more, and they went down 12-11 as the Springboks retained their crown.
Follow all the reaction from the final below.
New Zealand 0-3 South Africa
10 minutes: The pressure is all coming from South Africa.
Even a heavy tackle from Scott Barrett sees a miscued kick float over to the right wing where Damian Willemse plucks it out of the air and storms forward. He tries to kick it past Jordie Barrett but the New Zealand scoops it off the floor with one hand before being pushed into touch.
New Zealand 0-3 South Africa
7 minutes: A great crossfield kick from Pollard almost sees Cheslin Kolbe claim the ball and dart into space for the line. He leaps up to challenge in the air but seemingly knocks on under pressure from Richie Mo’unga.
New Zealand are awarded a scrum.
New Zealand 0-3 South Africa
6 minutes: A quick kick down the wing from the Springboks puts New Zealand on the back foot as Will Jordan is forced to catch the ball over his own shoulder when sprinting back towards his own try zone.
His offload misses the target and South Africa’s chase sees them fly up the pitch and turnover possession. The All Blacks are being bullied early on here.
PENALTY! New Zealand 0-3 South Africa (Handre Pollard, 3 minutes)
3 minutes: South Africa get themselves on the board first. They’re awarded a penalty after Shannon Frizell’s foul meaning Handre Pollard can kick.
He pulls his penalty slightly to the left but kisses the inside of the post and sends the ball over the top.
New Zealand 0-0 South Africa
3 minutes: Yellow card! Bongi Mbonambi is down and needs a bit of treatment on his right leg after diving into the ruck. Shannon Frizell arrives for the tackle and drops his body onto Mbonambi’s trailing leg.
After a review from the video ref, Frizell is shown a yellow card and the TMO is reviewing the incident to determine whether it should be upgraded to a red.
New Zealand 0-0 South Africa
2 minutes: Bang! Eben Etzebeth puts in the biggest tackle of the night. A few loose handling errors from New Zealand see them fumble around trying to regain the ball and string together a cohesive attack.
The ball across to Richie Mo’unga who flings it down the line before getting spangled by Etzebeth. An early sign that South Africa will want to dominate these early stages.
Kick off! New Zealand 0-0 South Africa
New Zealand get the match underway and boot the ball into the South African half. It’s claimed by full-back Damian Willemse who kicks it back down the pitch and gives possession back to the All Blacks.
New Zealand vs South Africa
As customary with New Zealand, Aaron Smith leads the haka with the Springboks staring down at their opponents for tonight’s World Cup final.
The stage is set, kick off is up next...
New Zealand vs South Africa
Here come the teams!
The All Blacks have that steely look on their faces as they stride down the tunnel and out onto the pitch at the Stade de France.
South Africa’s captain, Siya Kolisi, is singing away to himself as he leads out his teammates, he looks relaxed and ready to go.
The national anthems are now sung as the rain continues to fall in Paris.
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