Part 2: World Cup Champions

Quarterfinal VS France

This was a box office game and the talent on the pitch was a sight to behold, especially with the French playing their “champagne rugby” style. They played with a twinkle in their eye, a sparkle, and an excitement. As I watched this match live, I witnessed the influence of Antoine Dupont. A playing style and impact I had not seen from any other team or player in the tournament. He was the leader, and the one pulling all the offensive strings for his side. With no deliberation or wastage of time, he decided to take a quick penalty before anybody noticed, and assisted Peato Mauvaka for his try in the 21st minute. This was a typical feature of his performance and playing style.

As Thomas Ramos stepped up to convert the kick after the try, Cheslin Kolbe chased him down and blocked the ball! This heroic feat proved to be a crucial reason as to why the Springboks won this game. Another game changer was Eben Etzebeth. The No.4, nicknamed, “The Enforcer”. He received a yellow card and put his side down to 14 men just before the halftime whistle. However, once he returned onto the pitch, he was the difference maker and scored the try to put South Africa in the lead, 26-25, for the first time in the game. He received the ball a couple of yards away from the tryline and singlehandedly muscled past three smaller sized French players to score. These are the moments that make champions, or as the commentator put it, “From a yellow card to a hero!”. After two converted penalty kicks by either side in the final 10 minutes of the game, the score remained 29-28 to South Africa. 1 point in it. A game won by such fine margins…

Semifinal VS England

This was a wet conditioned, tricky game for both teams. But England were quickly out of the blocks and ascended to a 6-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes. England’s tactics were to kick, kick, and kick again. To keep sending the South Africans back into their half of the pitch, applying territory pressure. After 52 minutes of English dominance, Owen Farrell sank a miraculous drop goal kick extending England’s lead to 15-6. At this point in the game, South Africa were itching for opportunities to score a try, as they were frustratingly yet to score one. They finally got this opportunity, and similarly to Etzebeth’s game saving try against France in the quarterfinals, the 6’ 9’’ RG Snyman, nicknamed “The Viking”, scored the try the Springboks were desperately looking for. He muscled the ball over the tryline, taking on multiple English players in the process, and brought it down to touch! Snyman was not to be denied. The game was now at 15-13, and was going to come down to the wire.

In the 76th minute of the game, South Africa won a penalty from a scrum. From a staggering 49 meters away from goal, Handre Pollard then decided to take on the penalty kick to have the chance to win 3 points, and take the lead. You could say that England were as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Without hesitation, Pollard teed himself up and smashed the ball down the field. It effortlessly floated through the air and flew right down the centre of the posts. England 15, South Africa 16! England had squandered their lead with 4 minutes of the game remaining.

They were unable to score any last points in desperation, even after bringing on George Ford to salvage drop goal points along with Farrell in the dying 5 minute embers of the game. South Africa were through to the final. 1 point in it. A game won by fine margins…

Final VS New Zealand

To make South Africa’s 2023 world cup story even more dramatic than it already was, they were to face New Zealand in the final. The All Blacks. The only other nation to win a record 3 rugby world cups. Two titans. Two of the most successful rugby nations, coming together in a world cup final, attempting to add a record breaking 4th world cup title to their name. This was a high octane event.

As the Springboks led 9-3 into the 28th minute, the All Black captain Sam Cane received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, and was sent to the sin bin. However, in the 33rd minute, the referees upgraded that yellow card to a red card, and Sam Cane was banned from playing the rest of the game, putting his team down to 14 men. The All Blacks were immediately compounded with another Handre Pollard penalty kick conversion, making them trail 12-6 to the Springboks at the end of the first half.

In the opening exchanges of the second half, the All Blacks scored a much needed try, but it was ruled off by the referee due to a previous offence. They kept their resolve however, and were able to manufacture a similar move to break through the South African defense, and scored a try that could help to give them the lead. Richie Mo’unga was however unable to convert his kick, so the score remained 12-11 to South Africa.

Cheslin Kolbe received a 10 minute yellow card in the 72nd minute, meaning both sides were to play the remaining minutes of the final with 14 players each. Another big refereering call in this game. With an opportunity again to put New Zealand in the lead, Jordie Barret had a chance to capitalise on Kolbe’s penalty with a kick. But to the relief of the South African hearts and minds around the world, the distance just proved to be too great for Barrett, and his kick sailed past the posts.

The play was at a visceral intensity in the final moments of the game. Handre Pollard, made an attempt at scoring a drop kick goal in the 75th minute, and upon receiving the ball, Finlay Christie and Ardie Savea charged him down, giving their all to prevent further scoreboard damage. After a successful fingertip block from Savea, the ball deflected and spun away into the hands of Beauden Barrett. With pace and urgency, he passed to his brother Jordie Barrett. But Pieter-Steph du Toit served him an earth shattering tackle, and the reactions of “Ooooos” from the tentative crowd were heard all around the stadium. South Africa were defending their line, their nation, and as the clock continued to reach 80 minutes, their world cup title. After an intense battle of grit, wits and resolve, the referee blew his whistle, closing the final curtain. South Africa won the game 12-11 with only 1 point in it, and by the finest of margins…

South Africa are the 2023 Rugby World Cup champions.