Fighting to the last atom of strength
We finally got to have a final that is uncertain until the last seconds of the match. The last time we saw it was in 2011 in New Zealand when the hosts defeated the French 8-7. At the France Stadium, it was very even and tense from the very beginning of the match. The Springboks are masters of close games at this World Cup. If you were to calculate the point difference from ¼ final to the final, it would be +3. The Africans won three games in the knockout phase with a peon of difference. First they beat the French 29-28, then in the ½ final the English 16-15 and finally in the final New Zealand with 12-11. Unbelievable.
It's never too late to play rugby at the highest level
At the very beginning of the match, already in the 3rd minute, South Africa were without Mbogeni Mbonambi who had to leave the field due to injury, which was a huge misfortune. He was replaced by Deon Fourie. It is quite interesting that he made his debut for the Springboks at the age of 35. Imagine that you are the coach of any national team in the world and you decide to select a 37-year-old player among the 33 players going to the World Cup, and he made his debut a year earlier. After the first match at the World Cup, starting point guard Malcolm Marx was injured, so Mbonambi was also injured in the final, and here is an opportunity for the hardened veteran to show what he is worth. And he really showed it. He even served as captain at one point. A player who got something every rugby player wants and gave it his all. The lesson is that you can play your best rugby late in your career and be the best in the world.
Magician Rassie Erasmus and the case of Handre Pollard
At the end of the match, the audience sang the famous hit of the Cranberrys group, which they played in the 90s, “Zombie”. „In you head, in your head, Rassie, Rassie“. Now you don’t remember that Handre Pollard was not even in the first 33 players of South Africa. He got a call-up after the injury to Malcolm Marx, which was very interesting and intriguing at the time that you call up an opener instead of a shortstop. Rugby is a specific sport where you need quite a bit of time to adapt your game to your opponent after scouting. Rassie Erasmus knows this very well, who used it in the best possible way. Do not forget that Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok, who were the starting scrumhalf and flyhalf in the ½ final match against England, did not even be among 23 players in the final. Imagine how surprising that was to the New Zealand coaching staff, and indeed to most rugby fans around the world.
The match started very awkwardly for South Africa, who were left without a starter already in the 3rd minute . Then the New Zealander Frizzell also received a yellow card. South Africa made the best use of that, scoring two penalties through Pollard in those ten minutes for 6-0, and making the best use of the player more.
Sam Cane tragic again in the match against South Africa
Richie Mounga managed to reduce the score in the 17th minute to 6-3 by successfully executing the penalty. Not long after, Pollard made it 9-3 again. But then at 27th minute New Zealand captain Sam Kane received a yellow card which was later changed to a red card. If you remember, in the test match before the start of the World Cup, Sam Cane was also red carded, where New Zealand lost by the biggest margin ever. The same thing happened to him now, where he left the team in the lurch. The final of the World Cup doesn’t blink at indiscipline, and if you want to be a champion, you have to be maximally concentrated. South Africa managed to score in the 33rd minute from the penalty through Pollard for 12-3. It will also be the last point the Africans scored in the final.
South Africa Defensive Clinic
The New Zealand team was scouted as well as possible by South Africa, which completely shut them down, especially Will Jordan, who was not in the game fisicaly. They managed to control Telea as well as Mo’unga. Every tackle had an assistant tackler, where incredible pressure was exerted on the support of the All Blacks, who had fewer players, and often had to use an extra man in the rucks, which slowed down their game. When we add to that that the weather conditions favored the Springboks, who were suited to the game with shots. Speciality of Jacques Nienaber.
Ardi Savea and Beauden Barrett's world class
The absence of Cane was best complemented by the fantastic Savea, who simply flew on both sides of the field. Very strong in contact, a player who moves fantastically without the ball, creates a lot of space in the game for his teammates. Beauden has been the crème de la crème of world rugby for more than ten years. Maybe this wasn’t his best tournament, but he gave it his all. The two of them managed to neutralize the advantage of the more South African players. To be honest, South Africa failed to materialize the player more seriously. Even more, Richie Mo’unga reduced the score to 12-6 just before the end of the half.
South Africa have never lost a World Cup final
Performance is 100% four finals and four wins. Throughout the second half, there was an atmosphere that South Africa could not lose the match. If anyone knows how to play a final, it’s the Springboks. After all, they won three titles without giving a try in the deciding game. A championship team looks like a championship team, where everyone fights collectively and plays with discipline. And all 23 players are actively participating and contributing. For the first 15 minutes of the second half, South Africa looked like a team that couldn’t lose.
You can limit New Zealand in attack but you can't stop them completely
We almost wondered who last managed to keep New Zealand scoreless in a match. We don’t remember seeing anything like it ever. Statisticians and analysts will certainly be able to provide you with that type of information. But we are sure that this has not happened since the professionalization of rugby in 1995 . An try to New Zealand was originally disallowed when referee Wayne Barnes saw the ball knocked out of the New Zealander’s hands after a lineout but awarded a penalty. Still in 58th minute nothing could stop Beauden Barrett who ran a great sequence to receive a ball from Mark Telea which at first appeared to be dropped forward, and scored a try. Mo’unga was not accurate and the score was reduced to 58th minute to 12-11. You can’t stop New Zealand but you can limit them.
Defensive feats by Kwagga Smith and Faf de Klerk
The player of the match was definitely Peter Steph de Toit who was at the top defensive level throughout the match. He made as many as 28 successful tackles, had several excellent ball carries where he won over 50 meters of ground. But still the amazing Kvagga and Faf carried the show. Kwagga Smith snatched the ball out of Will Jordan’s hands like a baby rattle, he was incredible on the break down where he had three possessions. Each of his tackles, especially the tackles from the second plan, was fascinating. An amazing player with amazing abilities. And what can we say about that, that you play scrumhalf and that there is no change on the bench for you, and that you do your best to win the match. Faf de Klerk fell on his head several times that all of us in the stadium thought he had suffered a serious injury. He was everywhere, had several takedowns that prevented potential counters. As we have already said, the defensive clinic of Rasi Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber.
Another dance or the end of a great generation?
We already said in one of the earlier texts that Rassie Erasmus stated that the main goal was RWC 2023 when he took over the Springboks in 2018 . He then stated that RWC 2019 year was somewhat surprising, but that they took advantage of the opportunity when the English defeated New Zealand in the final. The goal has been met, even surpassed as South Africa are two-time world champions. But the question is what next?
South Africa is a very experienced team, with players in their prime for rugby. The vast majority of them are between 27 and 32 years old. So don’t be surprised if the Springboks attack for a third consecutive trophy in Australia 2027. It’s just a question in our opinion, how hungry Rassie Erasmus is for trophies. Unless he’s too tired, and we don’t think he is, and he can’t wait to outsmart the Crusaders’ Scott Robertson. By the way, to be precise, Rasi is not the coach of South Africa, he is the Director of Rugby, but he is a man who asks about everything. And it looks like he should be asking, because he brought two consecutive titles to South Africa.
