2023 Rugby World Cup final

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2023 Rugby World Cup final
StadeFranceNationsLeague2018.jpg
Stade de France hosted the final
Event 2023 Rugby World Cup
Date28 October 2023
Venue Stade de France , Saint-Denis
Player of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
Referee Wayne Barnes (England) [1]
Attendance80,065
WeatherCloudy
15 °C (59 °F)
82% humidity [2]
2019
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.

Contents

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 A Pool stage Pool B
OpponentResultOpponentResult
Flag of France.svg  France 13–27 Match 1Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 18–3
Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 71–3 Match 2Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 76–0
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 96–17 Match 3IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 8–13
Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 73–0 Match 4Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 49–18
PosTeamPldWDLPFPATFTABPts
1Flag of France.svg  France (H)440021032275218
2Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 430125347384315
3Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 42021141811525210
4Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 41036516492115
5Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 40043725533700
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers
(H) Host
Final standing
PosTeamPldWDLPFPATFTABPts
1IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 440019046275319
2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 430115134224315
3Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 4202146712110210
4Flag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 410396177132515
5Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 40043228744300
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers
OpponentResult Knockout stage OpponentResult
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 28–24 Quarter-finalsFlag of France.svg  France 29–28
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 44–6 Semi-finalsFlag of England.svg  England 16–15

New Zealand

The winning team would receive the Webb Ellis Cup Rugby World Cup Trophy.JPG
The winning team would receive the Webb Ellis Cup

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. 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. [22] They did get a try in the 58th minute. Beauden Barrett went over the try line on the left after an offload from Mark Telea, 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. [23]

Details

28 October 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg11–12Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Try: B. Barrett 58' m
Pen: Mo'unga (2/2) 17', 38'
Report Pen: Pollard (4/4) 3', 13', 19', 34'
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 80,065
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England) [24]
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body Allblacks23h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
New Zealand
Kit left arm sa23h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body sa23h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm sa23h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks Springboksocks19.png
Kit socks long.svg
South Africa
FB15 Beauden Barrett
RW14 Will Jordan Sub off.svg 71'
OC13 Rieko Ioane
IC12 Jordie Barrett
LW11 Mark Telea
FH10 Richie Mo'unga Sub off.svg 75'
SH9 Aaron Smith Sub off.svg 66'
N88 Ardie Savea
OF7 Sam Cane (c)Red card.svg 27'
BF6 Shannon Frizell Yellow card.svg 2'Sub off.svg 55'
RL5 Scott Barrett
LL4 Brodie Retallick Sub off.svg 71'
TP3 Tyrel Lomax Sub off.svg 66'
HK2 Codie Taylor Sub off.svg 66'
LP1 Ethan de Groot Sub off.svg 66'
Replacements:
HK16 Samisoni Taukei'aho Sub on.svg 66'
PR17 Tamaiti Williams Sub on.svg 66'
PR18 Nepo Laulala Sub on.svg 66'
LK19 Sam Whitelock Sub on.svg 55'
FL20 Dalton Papalii Sub on.svg 71'
SH21 Finlay Christie Sub on.svg 66'
FB22 Damian McKenzie Sub on.svg 75'
CE23 Anton Lienert-Brown Sub on.svg 71'
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Ian Foster
New Zealand vs South Africa 2023-10-28.svg
FB15 Damian Willemse Sub off.svg 66'
RW14 Kurt-Lee Arendse
OC13 Jesse Kriel
IC12 Damian de Allende
LW11 Cheslin Kolbe Yellow card.svg 73'
FH10 Handré Pollard
SH9 Faf de Klerk
N88 Duane Vermeulen Sub off.svg 58'
BF7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
OF6 Siya Kolisi (c)Yellow card.svg 45'Sub off.svg 73'
RL5 Franco Mostert Sub off.svg 52'
LL4 Eben Etzebeth Sub off.svg 58'
TP3 Frans Malherbe Sub off.svg 66'
HK2 Bongi Mbonambi Sub off.svg 4'
LP1 Steven Kitshoff Sub off.svg 52'
Replacements:
HK16 Deon Fourie Sub on.svg 4'
PR17 Ox Nché Sub on.svg 52'
PR18 Trevor Nyakane Sub on.svg 66'
LK19 Jean Kleyn Sub on.svg 58'
LK20 RG Snyman Sub on.svg 52'
FL21 Kwagga Smith Sub on.svg 58'
N822 Jasper Wiese Sub on.svg 73'
FB23 Willie le Roux Sub on.svg 66'
Coach:
Flag of South Africa.svg Jacques Nienaber

Player of the Match:
Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) [25]

Assistant referees:
Karl Dickson (England) [24]
Matthew Carley (England) [24]
Television match official:
Tom Foley (England) [24]
Reserve official:
Luke Pearce (England) [24]

Notes:

  • South Africa became the first team to win a fourth World Cup title. [26]
  • South Africa became the first team to win successive World Cup titles away from home. [26]
  • South Africa became the second team (after New Zealand in 2015) to retain the World Cup. [27]
  • This was the third time that the World Cup final winner earned their victory without scoring a try – a feat previously achieved by South Africa in 1995 and 2007. [28]
  • Sam Cane (New Zealand) became the first player to receive a red card in a World Cup final. [29]
  • The four cards issued in the match (one red and three yellows) set a new record for most cards issued in a World Cup final. There had been just one card issued across the previous nine finals – a yellow card against New Zealand's Ben Smith in 2015. [30]
  • This was the first World Cup final in which both finalists had lost a match during the pool stages. [31]
  • This was the first World Cup final in which all four match officials were appointed from the same union (England). [32]
  • Brothers Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett and Scott Barrett all started for New Zealand – the first time that three siblings played in a World Cup final. [33]
  • Beauden Barrett (New Zealand) became the first player to score a try in 2 separate Rugby World Cup finals, having scored a try in the 2015 RWC Final and another try in the 2023 RWC Final.

Statistics

Overall [34]
New ZealandSouth Africa
Tries10
Conversions00
Penalties
(attempts)
2(3)4(4)
Drop goals
(attempts)
0(0)0(4)
Match stats
Territory53%47%
Possession60%40%
Attacking
Metres made459360
Offloads57
Carries crossed gainline6637
Kicks from hand3438
Passes22184
Runs14985
Defending
Tackles92209
Tackles missed1437
Turnovers won27
Rucks won11556
Mauls won32
Set pieces
Scrums
(won/lost)
(2/0)(10/1)
Line-outs
(won/lost)
(20/2)(6/4)
Discipline
Yellow cards12
Red cards10
Penalties conceded510

See also

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