Rugby World Cup 2023 final: New Zealand 11-12 South Africa – as it happened

A tough night for Sam Cain.

Andy Bull on New Zealand.

Jonathan Liew on South Africa.

The best pictures from Paris.

The Rugby World Cup 2023 is over and South Africa wear the crown for another four years after a compelling and dramatic final to finish what should be seen as a good tournament; even if there is some disappointment that there is not a new name on the trophy. But absolutely no one can or should say this remarkable Springbok side are not worthy winners

Thanks for your company in this match and all the others.

Losing coach Ian Foster reflects on the match

“To come within a whisker of pulling it off... it’s heartbreaking. I’m proud of our guys, to go down to that red card so early and fight our way back and give ourselves a chance is pretty special. I don’t think it went wrong in any clear (way), it was a real arm wrestle, both teams had their moments... I’m incredibly proud of the way we fought.”

Sam Cane his here, looking completely hollowed out.

“First of all that the guys had to play with 14 men for the last 50-odd minutes... I thought the courage they showed out here tonight was incredible, the whole team are absolute warriors.

“It’s tough. I’d like to say well done to South Africa. Back-to-back (champions), they have been a fantastic team. They have had a heck of a tough road to the final and they have showed time and time again they have shown a way to win.”

The interviewer let him go after that, which was the kindest thing given the look of him.

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Siya Kolisi, two-time victorious captain, is chatting to ITV

“We were kind of just hoping to win in the last World Cup, but this time people were expecting it. There is so much going wrong in our country, and we are like the last line of defence and we can show that we can achieve so much together. There were people before me who fought for people who look like me to even be able to play for this team, so it’s my duty to make sure we make this team all it can be and inspire more people.

We had to dig deep to win this one. England showed who they are, New Zealand also today and we beat the host nation.”

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The Springboks gather at the far end of the stage, the rain cascading over them like l’eau de vie.

Kolisi takes his medal and walks calmly into position before gripping and jump-thrusting the trophy aloft amid cheers and pyrotechnics.

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South Africa finally make the walk, the support staff first up and all beaming. Cheslin Kolbe, who must have believed his knock-on had cost his side the title, is draped in his national flag.

The heavy rain has returned, but it is not dampening the spirits of the players as they mount the stage in turn to receive their medals.

New Zealand are next, led by Sam Cane suitably dressed in long black coat that has the look of a victorian mourning cape.

Long faces are understandably prevalent, with the exception of Aaron Smith who is smiling and he carries his child, no doubt doing his best to enjoy his final moments in public as an All Black.

The stage has been hastily constructed and Presidents Macron and Beaumont are ready for the presentation.

Wayne Barnes and the officials team are first up. They did a good job in the midst of some tricky situations, I thought.

Spare a thought for New Zealand who had to contend with losing their captain early and a few others to cards throughout. Even with that there was only a point in it.

The precision and accuracy that did so much v Ireland deserted them here, and that was ultimately enough for the rampaging Boks to capitalise. It should also be recognised that the South African accuracy in defence and kicking from hand played a huge part in that.

Here is the match report

Player of the Match Pieter Steph Du Toit

“Thanks to my heavenly father for this opportunity. Really tough task, each match was a final, winning by one point and it shows the resilience of this team and South Africa. We want to thank everyone who came through and travelled here and the support.”

He was incredible in this game, and the final tackle he put in to stop an NZ counterattack late on was emblematic of his energy and impact.

The South Africa Rugby Union have wasted no time…

South Africa have still never lost a World Cup Final.

A monumental victory in a tournament they’ve won with an aggregate winning margin in the knockouts of THREE POINTS. They are the absolute masters of the tiniest but mightiest moments.

80 mins. New Zealand 11–12 South Africa.

De Klerk is scragged at the back of the scrum but possession is held and forced over the line to end the match as another one-point victory for South Africa makes history and breaks All Black hearts.

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79m30s: NZ get a nudge on, but the ball isn’t in from De Klerk, so Barnes calls a reset

79 mins. More phases from the All Blacks, but they can’t get over halfway and that man Kwagga Smith wins a turnover from Ioane on the floor. He looked to have his hands on the ground first, but Ref Barnes isn’t interested.

The ball moves right and even though NZ get the ball back it spills forwards as Savea attempts an offload.

SA scrum. 30 seconds to glory for the Boks.

78 mins. NZ are on the ball, but well inside their own half. It’s a long way to go and not a great deal of time to cover the distance.

76 mins. Pollard rotates his levers for a drop-goal, but Savea busts his ligaments to get there and charge it down. Beauden Barrett runs it out, but is stopped dead on his 22 by Du Toit, who has been titanic in the match.

Christie has box-kick charged down by De Klerk that dribbles into touch.

73 mins. The knock-on was just inside the Bok half and to the right, well within Jordie’s range. He gives it his best, but it draws agonisingly to the left. It looked like he got himself a bit out of shape as he hammered it for length.

Mo’unga leaves the field for Damian McKenzie.

72 mins. An All Black attack moves right and Kolbe slaps at a Lienert-Brown offload. It’s a deliberate knock on and he’s off for the remainder of the game.

71 mins. Faf De Klerk has come alive these last few minutes, the latest demonstration has him racing up the blindside and attempting and angled kick towards the posts. The All Blacks field it for B Barrett to boom it clear.

Kolbe catches it and goes for a drop goal from basically in Lille it’s so far out, and it drops way short.

69 mins. Christie punts a box kick towards the Bok 22 that Kolbe claims for De Klerk to return the favour from his boot. Beauden Barrett comes forward to take it, but he bounces it off his hard hands.

South Africa celebrate this like they’ve scored a try, so vital are these small victories in the context of this match.

67 mins. A Mo’unga knock-on results in a scrum around halfway. There’s a pause as half the players don’t hear the whistle and play a mini match up the opposite touchline, with the NZ defence trying to deal with Kolbe.

When play finally restarts it’s a tidy drill from the Bok scrum that Le Roux calmly chips to touch in the All Black half.

Subs

Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax are replaced by Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tamaiti Williams and Nepo Laulala. Finlay Christie is on for Aaron Smith.

Confirmation that Kwagga Smith is on for Vermeulen. Willie Le Roux replaces Willemse.

63 mins. South Africa have deployed their bench to put a dent into this All Blacks period of confidence. This has an immediate impact as Kwagga Smith rips the ball from Will Jordan out wide after he receives a long Mo’unga pass.

61 mins. The All Blacks are full of the proverbial and vinegar now, this time winning a lineout on halfway for Jordie Barrett to have a huge run in midfield. He tries to offload to his support but it goes forward.

From the resulting scrum the Boks can’t secure possession and NZ are back on the ball in opposition territory.

56 mins. Prior to the Savea knock-on Etzebeth had played the arm in the lineout, so NZ have a penalty that they put into the corner to go at the line once more. The ball is worked left to Talea who forces through a couple of tackles before shovelling an offload onto the grass that Barrett reaches first to dive over.

GAME SIGNIFICANTLY ON!

Mo’unga misses the conversion.

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54 mins. NZ have been denied an absolutely wonderful try. Under huge pressure from the Bok defence they move it left from a lineout, Mo’unga takes it to the line and as he did against Ireland he shows and goes through gap and legs it up the left before popping inside to Aaron Smith who grounds it.

But the TMO chirps in the ear of Wayne Barnes that the ball was knocked on by Savea before it was released from the lineout. An absolute heartbreaker for the All Blacks and Smith.

51 mins. NZ win the lineout and drive for the Bok line, with the green wall present and correct. Mo’unga goes to switch play but the ball is knocked on and the attack dissipates.

Ox Nche is on for Stephen Kitshoff.

49 mins. There’s a chink of light for NZ up the right touchline as Codie Taylor is set free and puts a big step off his right foot to continue on his run. The ball is recycled quickly and Du Toit is rightly penalised for an off the ball tackle.

They put it in the corner as the bunker confirms Kolisi’s card remains yellow.

45 mins. Kolisi flies into a tackle on Savea and it looks like it’s head on head so Ref Barnes sends the Bok captain off for a bunker review.

I reckon this will stay yellow as Kolisi was bent at the waist and the initial contact was shoulder into chest. If that does happen we will hear the howls from New Zealand in Paris.

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44 mins. Possession is untidy from a Bok scrum, but De Klerk still manages to get the ball moving right as the green attack again works right for an angled kick that Arendse can chase. It looks to be going into touch before Arendse lightning bolts onto it and very nearly gets it down, but his foot in just in touch and he can’t hold the ball.

42 mins. After receiving a kick return from the restart Pollard launches one towards Barrett who makes a total mess of it, allowing it to be tapped back to Kolisi who rumbles into the 22. There was no obvious pass on, so the captain is hauled down but pops to De Allende who drives over the line to be held up by the All Blacks scrambling defence. Jordie Barrett the man underneath the Bok centre.

That really would have been the game.

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Handré Pollard boots us back into action

Terence Green emails.

“Once again, Wayne Barnes has managed to ruin what should be a fantastic exhibition for the game of rugby and has made it all about himself. It’s a disgrace.”

To be fair to Barnes he gave a yellow card for an upright shoulder-to-head tackle and asked the bunker to review it. The only way his decision could be questioned is if you believe the Cane tackle was not at least a yellow card. Which is a stretch.

Some rugby happened but all that will be discussed is the red card. Such discussions will mean little to the players facing the next 40 minutes, particularly those All Blacks who must now overturn the weight of historical results and become the first team to overturn a half-time deficit in a World Cup Final. And they must do it a man down, without their captain.

Imagine the documentaries that will be made if they manage to do it.

40 mins. Some fitful possession from both teams in the final few minutes of the half comes to nought.

37 mins. The All Blacks don’t let the shock of those few minutes affect their desire, and Telea puts in a canny carry from the base of a ruck and into the Bok 22. On the quickly recycled possession a lazy Etzebeth run has him pinged for offside, but NZ can’t capitalise on the advantage as they move the ball left to Ioane who is forced into touch near the line.

The play comes back to the original offence and Mo’unga adds to the total.

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33 mins. In the midst of all that, NZ were offside on the 22 and Pollard extends the lead.

32 mins. The Cane yellow has been upgraded to the first ever red card in a World Cup final.

The deciding factor appears to be that the NZ captain was very upright, with no bend to tackle at all. This lack of an attempt to lower his tackling height ultimately means mitigation was difficult for the bunker to argue.

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31 mins. Oh hello, SA have decided it’s time to show some moves. From a scrum on halfway Vermeulen picks and runs, feeds De Klerk who moves it though the hands to Kolbe arcing off his wing to slide a diagonal grubber towards the corner for Arendse to chase. It just drifts into touch as Beauden Barrett covers across.