The 2023 Rugby Union World Cup has gone full circle as the most successful team in history, New Zealand’s All Black battle three-time champions South Africa’s Springboks tomorrow at the iconic Stade de France in Paris in a repeat of the 1995 finals when the team from the ‘Rainbow Nation’ won a historic title in the front of teeming home fans including the legendary Nelson Mandela, reports MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.
He predicted a historic fourth title for South Africa at the start of the 2023 Rugby Union World Cup and Obong Ntiense Williams fondly called far and wide as Mr. Rugby, would be hopeful that the Springboks would live up to expectations tomorrow when they clash with the storied All Blacks in what should be grand finale at the Stade de France in Paris.
“The 2023 Rugby Union World Cup would hits the crescendo on Saturday between defending champions south Africa and former back-to-back champions new Zealand in a befitting finals,” Mr. Rugby told The Nation in a racy preview.
He continued: “The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition established in 1987 for the men’s national teams of the member unions of the sport’s governing body, World Rugby, and takes place every four years.
“The winners of the first final were New Zealand, who beat France. South Africa are the latest winners, having won the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
“Two of the eight finals contested have gone to extra time with the South Africa’s victory against New Zealand in the 1995 final as well as the England’s triumph against Australia in the 2003 final being the most outstanding.”
Of course, the grass often suffers when elephants clash and Ntiense is also of the view that the Stade de France would witness a match full of passion and intensity, adding both finalists have unique pedigrees.
“New Zealand and South Africa are two of the most successful teams in the history of the tournament,” he continued. “New Zealand’s All Blacks are the only team to have won consecutive tournaments with their victories in the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. Australia have won the competition twice, while England have one win; they are the only nation from the Northern Hemisphere to have won the competition.
“France are the only team to appear in a final without ever winning one, losing all three finals they have contested.
“Note that South Africa, due to international sanctions, was not permitted to play in the 1987 and 1991 events.
“ Interestingly, The Springboks have never lost a final and are looking to become only the second side to win back-to-back titles. The All Blacks have already set one record – this is their fifth final appearance.
“The All Blacks and Springboks have played each other 105 times, with the All Blacks leading the series 62 to 39, with 4 matches drawn,” he added.
Aside the statistics, Mr. Rugby noted with emphasis that this year’s tournament has already witnessed some dramatic runs leading up to tomorrow final match consequently, it would be too close to call to predict the likely winner of the battle of Stade de France.
“ Frankly, the major highlights for me at this 2023 Rugby Union World Cup was the upset by Argentina against Wales 29-17 in Marseille,” he said.“ France also gave a beautiful opener by defeating New Zealand 27 -13 at the Opening Ceremony on Friday 8 September in front of their ferocious crowd.
“ We can’t also forget Fiji upset of Australia, the next host of 2027 Rugby World Cup by 22-15 as they reached the knock out stage for the first time but Australia will however feature at the next World Cup without qualifiers as the hosts.
“Ireland also dug deep to give defending Champions and finalist, South Africa a shocking 13-8 defeat and we also had the only draw of the tournament as Georgia and Portugal battled to 18-18 scoreline,” he noted.
Yes indeed as Iconic Springbok captain Siya Kolisi insisted yesterday that rugby does not come any bigger than a World Cup final against old rivals New Zealand as reported by Agence France-Presse.
“It’s huge,” said Kolisi, who was also Bok skipper when South Africa beat England to win the Webb Ellis Cup four years ago in Japan. “We’ve prepared as hard as we can. We know what to expect. I don’t think as a player it will ever get any bigger. I think it will be the biggest game of my life.”
Kolisi said he had watched the 2007 final in France, when South Africa again beat England, and had been inspired as John Smit lifted the trophy.
He said he had watched that game with people who didn’t even normally follow rugby.
“It’s only because South Africa were playing that they just sit and watch the game,” said Kolisi, who was the first black player to wear the captain’s armband for the Boks in a Test match.
“I never thought I’d be here playing the final in the same place that I was watching John Smit lift the World Cup.
“This is the stuff that you dream about. Honestly, I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t one of my dreams to play in the World Cup final in France against the All Blacks.”
The last time the Boks faced off against New Zealand in a World Cup final was in 1995, when Nelson Mandela rallied behind the home team once seen as a symbol of apartheid.
That victory became a unifying, jubilant moment in a country still torn by deep societal divides and struggling with high poverty and unemployment.
“I didn’t get to watch the game, I was four then,” said Kolisi. “The significance of the game is huge. It opened a lot of doors for me and many others.
“It was a huge game for South Africa in general and that’s why it’s highly spoken about even to this day.”
For coach Jacques Nienaber, that 1995 success was also well remembered.
“After the victory we were all in the streets. I was at university then,” he said.
“I watched the game about a year ago. It’s amazing how the game has changed.
“There were over 80 kicks in that game. And they played with a leather ball. There wasn’t any lifting in the line-outs so there were a lot of differences back then.
“The ball in play was under 24 minutes. There was literally no rugby, it was set-piece after set-piece. The game is a far better product now than it was back then, but not taking anything away from the game.”
Meanwhile, Argentina play England in the Rugby World Cup’s third-place play off today with both sides licking their wounds from two very different semi-final losses and having already met during the tournament.
The Pumas were pitifully hammered 44-6 by a rampaging New Zealand but can equal their best-ever finish in the tournament with a win at the Stade de France.
Steve Borthwick’s valiant England, champions in 2003, led holders South Africa until Handre Pollard’s 77th minute claimed the 16-15 victory for the Springboks.
“As a player when you have had a defeat, especially the nature of Saturday night, if you could run out there and play again you would,” Borthwick told reporters this week.
“It’s the same as a coach. I am excited about the development of the team, how they have dealt with tough situations,” the former England captain added.
The two teams met in their opening game of the World Cup, with George Ford’s three drop goals helping England to a 27-10 success in a humid Marseille.
Both sides were clinical, if not expansive, as they reached last weekend’s last four, where they came undone against the two best teams in the world.
