Paris: SouthAfricabecame the first teamtowin theRugbyWorldCupfour times when theybeatNewZealand12-11 after the All Blacks were reducedto14men after half an hour in Saturday’s final at the Stade de France.
NewZealandcaptain Sam Cane, the first playertobe sent off in aWorldCupfinal, was shown a red card for a high tackle as the Springboks led 12-3 despite losing hooker Bongi Mbonambi with a knee injury in the third minute.
Handre Pollard kicked four penaltiestomake sure that Beauden Barrett’s try and Richie Mo’unga’s six points from the tee would not preventSouthAfricafrom maintaining their perfect finalrecordas the Springboks won their third game in a row by one point.
Jordie Barrett had a chancetoslot the winning penalty with seven minutes left after Cheslin Kolbe was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on, but his attempt went wide andSouthAfricaended up celebrating their second final win against the All Blacks after their 1995 triumph.
(Published 29 October 2023, 01:00 IST)