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On the fiftieth day there was only one left. The Rugby World Cup in France concluded on Saturday, October 28, after more than a month and a half of competition. The final pitted two of the biggest heavyweights in the sport, New Zealand and South Africa, at the Stade de France at 9pm. Crowned world champions by dominating the Blacks in the final (12-11)the Springboks led the defense of their 2019 title to completion and made oval ball history by becoming the first team to win four Webb Ellis Trophies. Follow the match live.
South Africa in history. The Boks responded to their evening opponent with the weight of history. As winners of the last edition in 2019, they became the second team after New Zealand (2011 and 2015) to win the Webb-Ellis Trophy twice in a row. Most importantly, the South Africans are the only ones to have won four World Cups, overtaking the All Blacks in the hierarchy.
New Zealand narrowly misses a thunderous comeback. They were almost locked out in pain. Scattered just before the World Cup by the biggest defeat in their history (35-7), against the South Africans, and then defeated from the start by the France XV, the All Blacks were not among the big favorites for a place in the final . However, the New Zealanders had dispelled the doubts. Authoritarian winners over Ireland in the quarter-final before outclassing Argentina, Ian Foster’s men showed a marked rise in power and narrowly managed to return to the top of the world.
One of the greatest rivalries in sports history. Between New Zealanders and South Africans, the history is rich, steeped in fear, but above all, in open-hearted mutual respect. “There is a lot of respect between us and we know we will get the best out of each other”South African Kwagga Smith confirmed at a press conference “an honour” to have the All Blacks as opponents. Before Saturday, the two countries had met just once in the World Cup final, but for one of the most powerful moments in the annals of the competition. At their first participation in 1995, the Springboks won after extra time (15-12) in a post-apartheid context full of symbolism.
