On this day – 28 October – in 2023, Siya Kolisi hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup after the Springboks claimed back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles.
The win was a record fourth for South Africa having emerged victorious in 1995, 2007 and 2019.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup final was played at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis in France.
It was played between New Zealand and South Africa, with the latter winning 12-11.
The Springboks 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.
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.
Road to the final
New Zealand
New Zealand began their World Cup campaign with a defeat to hosts France in the opening match of the tournament.
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, 96-17 against Italy, and 73-0 against Uruguay.
In the quarter-finals, New Zealand faced Pool B winners and No 1-ranked Ireland, where they came out winners in a tight affair with a scoreline of 28–24.
In the semi-final at the Stade de France, New Zealand played Argentina, where the All Blacks defeated Los Pumas 44-6 to reach a record fifth Rugby World Cup final.
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, they secured victories over Scotland (18-3), Romania (76-0) and Tonga (49-18) to finish second in the pool and advance to the knockout stage.
In the quarter-finals, they faced 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.
In the semi-final, South Africa played England, in a repeat of the 2007 and 2019 finals.
In another tight affair in Saint-Denis, South Africa completed a comeback through a late Handre Pollard penalty to win 16-15 and advance to their fourth Rugby World Cup final.
Final summary
First half
In the secnd 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.
South Africa went on to take a 6-0 lead with two penalties converted by Handre Pollard before Richie Mo’unga scored for New Zealand with a penalty after 17 minutes.
Pollard landed another penalty two minutes later to make it 9-3.
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.
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.
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 tryline 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.
They did get a try in the 58th minute.
Beauden Barrett went over the tryline on the left after an offload from Mark Tele’a.
Richie Mo’unga missed the conversion from the left that would have put New Zealand in front.
With seven minutes to go, Cheslin Kolbe received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, but New Zealand missed the critical penalty.
South Africa held on to win 12-11 and claim their fourth World Cup title.
Match stats
| New Zealand | South Africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Tries | 1 | 0 |
| Conversions | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties (attempts) |
2(3) | 4(4) |
| Drop goals (attempts) |
0(0) | 0(4) |
| Match stats | ||
| Territory | 53% | 47% |
| Possession | 60% | 40% |
| Attacking | ||
| Metres made | 459 | 360 |
| Offloads | 5 | 7 |
| Carries crossed gainline | 66 | 37 |
| Kicks from hand | 34 | 38 |
| Passes | 221 | 84 |
| Runs | 149 | 85 |
| Defending | ||
| Tackles | 92 | 209 |
| Tackles missed | 14 | 37 |
| Turnovers won | 2 | 7 |
| Rucks won | 115 | 56 |
| Mauls won | 3 | 2 |
| Set pieces | ||
| Scrums (won/lost) |
(2/0) | (10/1) |
| Lineouts (won/lost) |
(20/2) | (6/4) |
| Discipline | ||
| Yellow cards | 1 | 2 |
| Red cards | 1 | 0 |
| Penalties conceded | 5 | 10 |
TEAMS
South Africa
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Jean Kleyn, 20. RG Snyman, 21. Kwagga Smith, 22. Jasper Wiese, 23. Willie le Roux
New Zealand
15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Dalton Papali’I, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown
What’s your most vivid memory of the 2023 Rugby World Cup?
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