South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi suffers Rugby World Cup final heartbreak with injury
The Springboks hooker suffered World Cup final heartache again, leaving the game at the Stade de France after just two minutes, four years on from the 2019 final in Yokohama where he was forced off after 21 minutes against England
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
South Africa’s Bongi Mbonambi suffered a nightmare Rugby World Cup final after being forced off injured with only two minutes played.
The Springboks hooker was forced off with a knee injury after Shannon Frizell landed on his standing leg at the breakdown, earning the All Blacks player a yellow card. Referee Wayne Barnes took advice from his TMO before producing the card, which was then put to a review for a possible upgrade to red, based on whether Frizell’s action was deliberate.
The TMO kept the card at yellow, concluding Frizell was “not targeting the leg, he’s fallen on it”.
Mbonambi was replaced by part-time hooker Deon Fourie, exposing South Africa’s risky strategy of not opting for depth at the position. However, Mbonambi was officially replaced in a tactical capacity, opening the possibility of his return to action later in the match, despite his clear knee injury.
The incident had echoes of the final four years ago when Mbonambi lasted only 20 minutes before being replaced with injury.
New Zealand and South Africa are renewing rugby’s greatest rivalry as they clash for the second time in a World Cup final. With each team having lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy on three previous occasions, the winner at the Stade de France will be crowned the most successful nation in the tournament’s history.
The All Blacks entered the rematch of the 1995 final as marginal favourites having overwhelmed Argentina in the previous round without breaking sweat, while South Africa had been taken to the wire by England.
Later in the first half, All Blacks captain Sam Cane was sent off for a dangerous tackle on South African back Jesse Kriel, as the Springboks went into half-time with a 12-6 lead and a one-man advantage.
And although New Zealand came back in the second half through Beauden Barrett’s try, South Africa clung on to claim a historic fourth World Cup.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments