History is set to be made on October 28th as South Africa prepares to face their arch-rivals, New Zealand, in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. This highly anticipated clash at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, is arguably the biggest match in the history of the sport, fuelled by the long-standing rivalry between these two giants of rugby. Either the Springboks or the All Blacks will etch their name in the annals of history by winning the World Cup for the fourth time.
South Africa will be aiming for back-to-back World Cup victories, a feat they have never achieved before while coach Scott Robertson’s boys are brimming with confidence, eager to dethrone the reigning champions and secure their fourth World Cup title.
Both nations have won the World Cup trophy three times, with New Zealand having an impressive record of 49 wins and one runner-up finish. The All Blacks first lifted the trophy in 1987 when they hosted the tournament, and they repeated their feat in 2011 as hosts once again. In 2015, they became the first nation to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups.
The Springboks secured their first-ever Rugby World Cup as hosts in 1995 and repeated their triumph by becoming champions once more at the 2007 tournament in France. South Africa made history once again when they won the competition by defeating England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, despite a loss in a pool stage match.
Throughout this year’s World Cup tournament in France, the All Blacks have been a force to be reckoned with, crushing their opponents, such as Namibia with a score of 71-3 and Uruguay with an emphatic 73-0 victory. Their flawless record leading up to the final has solidified their reputation as the team to beat.
On the other hand, the reigning champions, South Africa, have demonstrated their resilience in nail-biting encounters grinding out results against hosts, France, and England, beating both nations by just a single point difference, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure.
The game will be broadcast live on SABC Sport and SuperSport at 21h00 on Saturday, 28 October. The world will be watching as the Springboks and the All Blacks write the next chapter in the ongoing saga of their fierce rivalry.
