South Africa produced an impressive defensive show to edge 14-man New Zealand 12-11 in a compelling arm-wrestle of a Rugby World Cup remaining and win the Webb Ellis Cup for a file fourth time.
Solely a single yellow card had been proven in 9 earlier World Cup finals, however the crackdown on foul play within the recreation led to 4 being handed out over 80 minutes of intense rugby performed out in entrance of a crowd of 80,065 on the Stade de France on Saturday.
All Blacks skipper Sam Cane suffered the ignominy of being the primary participant to be despatched off in a title decider when his card for a excessive sort out was upgraded to a crimson after a bunker evaluate simply earlier than half-time.
Regardless of taking part in for three-quarters of the match a person brief, nonetheless, the All Blacks caught to their ball-running recreation plan and scored the match’s solely strive by means of Beauden Barrett to get inside some extent of the lead simply earlier than the hour mark.
The Springboks, led by man of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit, managed to carry agency below large stress over the ultimate quarter and Handre Pollard’s 4 first-half penalties proved ample so as to add one other title to these of 1995, 2007 and 2019.
South Africa’s triumph stored the trophy within the southern hemisphere for the fifth straight event, and Siya Kolisi grew to become solely the second captain after All Black Richie McCaw to carry it twice.
“There are not any methods I can clarify it. The All Blacks took us to the tip, they took us to a darkish place,” Kolisi stated.
“Credit score to my boys too for the battle. I’m simply grateful we may pull it off.
“There’s a lot going incorrect in our nation, and we’re just like the final line of defence and we will present that we will obtain a lot collectively.”
All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell was the primary to be proven a yellow card as early because the third minute for a clearout on Bongi Mbonambi that compelled the Springboks hooker off the rain-sodden pitch with a leg damage.
Flyhalf Pollard kicked the penalty and added one other within the twelfth minute as New Zealand waited nervously to listen to whether or not Frizell’s yellow can be upgraded to a crimson.
Frizell did come again on and helped New Zealand win a penalty that Richie Mo’unga slotted over to chop the deficit however Pollard replied with a 46-metre effort to offer South Africa a 9-6 lead on the finish of the opening quarter.
New Zealand have been right down to 14 males once more simply earlier than the half-hour mark when Cane clattered head-first into Springboks centre Jesse Kriel, however this time there was no reprieve and the All Blacks skipper sat out the remainder of the sport.
Pollard kicked his fourth penalty after the crimson card was confirmed and although Mo’unga replied with one other three-pointer earlier than the break, the Springboks went into half-time a person up and with a 12-6 lead.
No workforce had ever recovered from a half-time deficit to win a World Cup remaining, and the Springboks got here out flying within the second half, seeking to drive dwelling their benefit.
Kolisi was despatched to the sin-bin within the forty sixth minute for a excessive sort out on Ardie Savea. Nevertheless, New Zealand scrum-half Aaron Smith thought he had scored the primary strive of the match eight minutes later after a superb break from Mo’unga.
That rating was referred to as again for a knock-on earlier within the transfer, however Beauden Barrett was awarded a strive 4 minutes later regardless of winger Mark Telea seeking to have fumbled the ball ahead within the sort out earlier than the fullback touched down.
It was the primary strive South Africa had conceded in 4 World Cup finals, however Mo’unga missed the conversion from wide-out and the Springboks held on to the lead.
Kolisi had, by now, returned to the fray after his card was not upgraded, and South Africa introduced their famed “bomb squad” off the bench to alleviate fatigued forwards.
South Africa winger Cheslin Kolbe was the fourth participant to be yellow-carded seven minutes from time, however New Zealand’s Jordie Barrett struck the following 48-metre penalty try broad of the posts.
New Zealand had additionally been hoping to win a fourth World Cup, and coach Ian Foster thought the way in which the playing cards for Cane and Kolisi performed out had been a decisive issue.
“The sport has received a number of points it’s received to type out,” he stated. “That’s not bitter grapes. There have been two comparable incidents, one was a crimson, one was a yellow, and that’s the sport.”
A distraught Cane stated he “must reside without end” with the crimson card he obtained.
“We’ve been on the event for 2 months, and something across the head has ramifications,” Cane instructed reporters.
“I’m not right here to say whether or not it’s proper or incorrect, it will probably’t be modified. Sadly, it’s one thing I must reside with without end.”