New Zealand v South Africa LIVE: Rugby World Cup final score and result as Springboks beat All Blacks in Paris
The Springboks won a historic fourth Rugby World Cup with a tense one-point victory over the All Blacks in Paris
South Africa hung on to beat New Zealand in a tense 2023 Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France in Paris, and in doing so they became the first men’s side to win the tournament for a fourth time.
The All Blacks entered the contest as slight favourites following a comprehensive 44-6 victory against Argentina, while the Springboks reached Saturday’s showpiece event after a last-minute penalty secured them a narrow 16-15 win over England.
South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi suffered a nightmare start to the match as a knee injury forced the hooker off after only four minutes, four years after he lasted only 20 minutes in the 2019 World Cup final. New Zealand’s Shannon Frizell was shown a yellow card for causing Mbonambi’s injury, but worse was to come for the All Blacks when captain Sam Cane was sent off for a dangerous tackle on the Springboks’ Jesse Kriel, and South Africa led 12-6 at half-time.
A Beauden Barrett try pulled New Zealand back to within one point of their rivals, but the All Blacks couldn’t find anything more, and they went down 12-11 as the Springboks retained their crown.
Follow all the reaction from the final below.
New Zealand 11-12 South Africa
70 minutes: 10 minutes to play in this crucial final at the Stade de France. After a blockbusting and intense 20 minutes in the second half, things have settled down in favour of South Africa.
Tactical kicks, chases, tackles are taking place with both teams looking for territory.
New Zealand 11-12 South Africa
66 minutes: There’s a kicking game at play now as both teams try to gain a foothold in the opponents half.
Aaron Smith is replaced for the All Blacks meaning he departs the field for the final time as a New Zealand rugby player with his retirement looming.
Can his teammates get him over the line for a World Cup final victory?
New Zealand 11-12 South Africa
63 minutes: New Zealand have responded brilliantly in this second half, especially when the teams were level in terms of personnel during Kolisi’s sin binning.
South Africa need to have a period of possession to settle things down but the All Blacks won’t make it easy for them. They are right up for this contest now.
New Zealand 11-12 South Africa
60 minutes: Richie Mo’unga pushes his conversion effort wide to the right meaning New Zealand still trail by one point.
South Africa won their quarter-final against France by one point, they won their semi-final against England by one point, will they win the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand by one point?
TRY! New Zealand 11-12 South Africa (Beauden Barrett, 58 minutes)
58 minutes: Siya Kolisi is brought back onto the pitch as New Zealand drive for the try line once again.
The All Blacks look to get in on the right side of the pitch with phase after phase seeing them denied. A switch in play sees the ball flung over to the left wing where Mark Tele’a takes over possession.
He comes inside and is brought down, dropping the ball in the process. Beauden Barrett is the first to react, he scoops it up and dives for the line, going over for the first legitimate try of the evening.
NO TRY! New Zealand 6-12 South Africa
55 minutes: New Zealand’s celebrations are cut short. The referee is informed of a knock on in the build-up to that try by Ardie Savea.
As the replays are shown it becomes clear that there’s an initial foul for tackling in the air before Savea knocked the ball on meaning New Zealand have possession but the try doesn’t stand.
Big call from the referee.
TRY! New Zealand 11-12 South Africa (Aaron Smith, 54 minutes)
54 minutes: New Zealand score the first try of the night!
They pile pressure on South Africa inside their own 22 and turn the ball over. It comes out of the ruck and gets sent to in two passes to Richie Mo’unga.
He drives towards the line, dummies a pass and then bursts towards the line before getting tackled. As he goes down he offloads to Aaron Smith who plunges over for a try.
New Zealand 6-12 South Africa
53 mins: Siya Kolisi’s yellow card remains a yellow according to the TMO bunker.
New Zealand switch the play from left to right and try to dart in on the right wing. There’s a knock on by Will Jordan as South Africa scoop up possession.
Eben Etzebeth is stopped from sprinting forward but the Springboks are awarded a scrum.
New Zealand 6-12 South Africa
51 minutes: Scott Barrett is taken out off the ball meaning New Zealand win a penalty. They kick for territory and boot the ball into touch a few metres from the South African try line.
If the All Blacks score here this final is still wide open.
New Zealand 6-12 South Africa
48 minutes: Yellow card! Siya Kolisi is now sitting out for 10 minutes after a poor tackle on Shannon Frizell. The New Zealander grabs the ball in the air and, as he lands, he’s clattered on the chin by the South African captain.
This one is slightly different to the Sam Cane incident. Kolisi is more horizontal and hits Frizell on the body before riding up and catching the head.
He’s in the sin bin but shouldn’t get upgraded to a red.
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