On 28 October 2023, the Springboks edged the All Blacks at the Stade de France to clinch a record fourth World Cup title.
The Boks ground out a 12-11 victory, becoming the second team to win back-to-back titles after New Zealand achieved the feat in 2011 and 2015.
Reduced to 14 men after captain Sam Cane’s 27th-minute red card, the All Blacks pushed the Boks to the brink, but the defending champions held their nerve in the dying moments.
Flyhalf Handré Pollard kicked all 12 of South Africa’s points in the first half, including a monster effort from 50m, while flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit turned in a titanic performance with 27 tackles to earn the Man of the Match award.
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Hooker Bongi Mbonambi’s early injury and captain Siya Kolisi’s 45th-minute yellow card tested the Boks.
All Blacks fullback Beauden Barrett scored a 58th-minute try, but flyhalf Richie Mo’unga missed the conversion and centre Jordie Barrett was off target with a penalty-goal attempt seven minutes from time.
Bok winger Cheslin Kolbe was also sin-binned late on, but Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus’ men absorbed one final attack and forced a decisive scrum to seal the win.
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
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