RWC 2023 Final - New Zealand v South Africa, 28 October

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NEW ZEALAND v SOUTH AFRICA
28 October 2023
21:00 local time (CEST) (UTC+2)
Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Live on ITV/S4C

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Karl Dickson, Matthew Carley
Television match official: Tom Foley

A. Head to Head

105 Played 105
62 Won 39
4 Drawn 4
39 Lost 62
2185 Points 1728

B. Recent Form

25 September 2021
North Queensland Stadium, Townsville
19–17 to New Zealand

2 October 2021
Robina Stadium, Gold Coast
29–31 to South Africa

6 August 2022
Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela
26–10 to South Africa

13 August 2022
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
23–35 to New Zealand

15 July 2023
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
35–20 to New Zealand

25 August 2023
Twickenham Stadium, London
35–7 to South Africa

C. Teams

NEW ZEALAND
B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo'unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Retallick, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.

Replacements: Liernert-Brown for Jordan (71), McKenzie for Mo'unga (75), Christie for Smith (66), Williams for de Groot (66), Taukeiaho for Taylor (66), Papali'i for Retallick (71).Not Used: Laulala, Whitelock.

SOUTH AFRICA
Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Fourie for Nbonambi (4) Le Roux for Willemse (66), Nche for Kitshoff (52), Kleyn for Etzebeth (58), Snyman for Mostert (52), Wiese for Kolisi (73), Smith for Vermeulen (58).

Cynical tackle off the ball from Faf - stick him in the bin

Lol. Annoying that you miss the first 5 mins and the nature of this wc means you get sod all replays of controversial things that have happened.

Yeah, you have to commit GBH to get a red in this WC!

Really intense start from SA, ferocious line speed, but Kiwis only 3-6 down.

That wasn't a pen - SA get another unwarranted pen

Heaf wrote:You mean the 'tactical' sub?

Disgraceful

You’ve got to take people at thier word when there’s nothing else to go on, but no team in the history of any team sport makes a tactical substitution after 3 minutes

SA not read the script as to being under dogs!

Ya know, one thing football has right is playing their world cups in the summer. Playing in the pishing rain just, well, makes it a damp squib

Another clumsy yellow

NZ not making it easy for themselves

On current form another YC though

I really don't want cards ruining the final.
By rule, gone. But I hope only a yellow.

Going to be another yellow with the leniency now shown.

Hard enough to beat SA without playing with 14 for 20 minutes!

That one would probably be a red in normal rugby. This WC likely a yellow.

Should be a red but wont be. Really boring game so far.

Yep was looking forward to this match but's it's a bore-fest so far

Definite red that.

Right decision but a shame for the match.

Well game over then.

Yikes, RC for Cane!

Wow.

Wow wow wow

Refs are loving the boks and hating the blacks tonight

Given how the high shots have been referring so far this tournament its a surprise.

Game over

Oh wow! They've actually enforced the laws properly for the first time since Curry's red.

And that's game over. Don't think NZ were winning it with 15 to be honest, but it's definitely over now.

Judged English

BigGee wrote:Yikes, RC for Cane!

Really living up to the “sh*t Richie McCaw” tag.

Red pre-tournament for sure - but how many others like that have we seen during the tournament that have stayed yellow

yellow him - deliberate lazy running

Heaf wrote:yellow him - deliberate lazy running

Very close. Not lazy pretty deliberate.

The consistency of the bunker just swung back again

World rugby are going to need to look at what the hell has been going on. I’ve seen worse hits than that not even get penalised.

If it was a club game it’s a red. But this World Cup. Who the hell knows. Not me and not the players which makes a mockery of the whole thing

tigertattie wrote:The consistency of the bunker just swung back again

World rugby are going to need to look at what the hell has been going on. I’ve seen worse hits than that not even get penalised.

If it was a club game it’s a red. But this World Cup. Who the hell knows. Not me and not the players which makes a mockery of the whole thing

Precisely. 8 weeks ago I nod that through and say good decision. Now after the last 6 weeks it seems really harsh.

Yes, Savea's surprise at learning of the upgrade probably mirrored everyone else who has been following this tournament.

Anyway, a very messy final with few moments of quality. South Africa on course for four WC victories, maintaining their 100% record in finals, a phenomenal feat.

This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

Barnes going to get more toilets named after him in NZ after the red!

Yoda wrote:This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

And therein lies the problem ... shame they weren't for the entire tournament

Duty281 wrote:Yes, Savea's surprise at learning of the upgrade probably mirrored everyone else who has been following this tournament.

Anyway, a very messy final with few moments of quality. South Africa on course for four WC victories, maintaining their 100% record in finals, a phenomenal feat.

Yeah and for me this will be their greatest ever win or possibly 95.

Yoda wrote:This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

Competent? Since when is falling on a foot a yellow?
Since when does a ref say oh sorry Ardie just saw the replay as Pollard kicks the obviously non penalty. Since when is a clear knock on by Faf , ‘went backwards’ when he drops it after trying to pick it up.
Barnes needs to go to Specsavers… again.

Yoda wrote:Barnes going to get more toilets named after him in NZ after the red!

They'll blame him but the red was not his decision

Taylorman wrote:

Yoda wrote:This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

Competent? Since when is falling on a foot a yellow?
Since when does a ref say oh sorry Ardie just saw the replay as Pollard kicks the obviously non penalty. Since when is a clear knock on by Faf , ‘went backwards’ when he drops it after trying to pick it up.
Barnes needs to go to Specsavers… again.

It begins again.

I've watched all of the England games and a couple more here and there so was expecting that to be red based on Curry against Argentina. Sounds like there's been the usual inconsistency regarding these tackles throughout the tournament?

Soul Requiem wrote:I've watched all of the England games and a couple more here and there so was expecting that to be red based on Curry against Argentina. Sounds like there's been the usual inconsistency regarding these tackles throughout the tournament?

Everything other than Curry has been waved through as yellows.

Yoda wrote:Barnes going to get more toilets named after him in NZ after the red!

Red was Canes fault. It’s the other things Barnes seems to be seeing that irks.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Yoda wrote:This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

Competent? Since when is falling on a foot a yellow?
Since when does a ref say oh sorry Ardie just saw the replay as Pollard kicks the obviously non penalty. Since when is a clear knock on by Faf , ‘went backwards’ when he drops it after trying to pick it up.
Barnes needs to go to Specsavers… again.

It begins again.

Barnes needs to improve. He’s seeing ghosts.
Mind you, the ABs need to improve even more. Du toit is killing us.

Fair red for me. There's no dip and he's hit with force, first contact is shoulder to head.

I don't feel NZ are completely out of this though. I'd expect Foster and Schmidt to be nailing it into their playmakers that they kick for touch to force Fourie to throw lineouts. I'd also expect them to take some more risks with 50/22 chances balancing the lowered risk of putting it out on the full against attacking opportunities.

Presumably Kolisi will need to play 80 which he hasn't been doing recently due to Fourie being at hooker. Fourie at hooker should also limit the scrum impact that Ox can have by being a freak.

I have a feeling this could open up late. I reckon a few Boks will tire from their run of tough games whilst NZ will tire from being a man down.

There's always the chance of a yellow the other way to even the numbers for 10 minutes too.

Obviously, advantage SA but I don't think this is buried yet.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Yoda wrote:This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

Competent? Since when is falling on a foot a yellow?
Since when does a ref say oh sorry Ardie just saw the replay as Pollard kicks the obviously non penalty. Since when is a clear knock on by Faf , ‘went backwards’ when he drops it after trying to pick it up.
Barnes needs to go to Specsavers… again.

It begins again.

He has a point re the the pen that went completely the wrong way ... if that doesn't happen everything after that point changes ....

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:I've watched all of the England games and a couple more here and there so was expecting that to be red based on Curry against Argentina. Sounds like there's been the usual inconsistency regarding these tackles throughout the tournament?

Everything other than Curry has been waved through as yellows.

I can't remember the exact details as it was only the 'Bronze' match but the lack of action over a couple of tackles yesterday surprised me.

Taylorman wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Yoda wrote:This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

Competent? Since when is falling on a foot a yellow?
Since when does a ref say oh sorry Ardie just saw the replay as Pollard kicks the obviously non penalty. Since when is a clear knock on by Faf , ‘went backwards’ when he drops it after trying to pick it up.
Barnes needs to go to Specsavers… again.

It begins again.

Barnes needs to improve. He’s seeing ghosts.

Fair enough. The best in the world needs to improve. God knows what you need to do in your job.

Soul Requiem wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Soul Requiem wrote:I've watched all of the England games and a couple more here and there so was expecting that to be red based on Curry against Argentina. Sounds like there's been the usual inconsistency regarding these tackles throughout the tournament?

Everything other than Curry has been waved through as yellows.

I can't remember the exact details as it was only the 'Bronze' match but the lack of action over a couple of tackles yesterday surprised me.

Ah the Dan fist to the head. Yeah fair enough.

Heaf wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Taylorman wrote:

Yoda wrote:This is what happens when there is a competent officiating team unlike the lot last night. Terrible tackle, red all day. It's nice to see the games laws being enforced for once.

Competent? Since when is falling on a foot a yellow?
Since when does a ref say oh sorry Ardie just saw the replay as Pollard kicks the obviously non penalty. Since when is a clear knock on by Faf , ‘went backwards’ when he drops it after trying to pick it up.
Barnes needs to go to Specsavers… again.

It begins again.

He has a point re the the pen that went completely the wrong way ... if that doesn't happen everything after that point changes ....

Yeah. If any decision changes everything after that point changes. Good point.

Soul Requiem wrote:I've watched all of the England games and a couple more here and there so was expecting that to be red based on Curry against Argentina. Sounds like there's been the usual inconsistency regarding these tackles throughout the tournament?

Curry and a couple of other players got reds in the first round, but then there was a shift in the way the bunker was adjudging things and for most of the tournament it became almost impossible to get a red.

To give one example, Etzebeth’s high tackle on on Atonio in the QF was almost identical to the one that got Farrell a red card in the warm ups (and if anything Farrell had better mitigation because the tackled player was falling rather than just changing direction), but it stayed yellow.

But at least it’s been consistent for the past 6 weeks ago, until we get to the Final and it’s changed again.

Doubly not scored.

Did Dickson really think that was a try?