Undermanned All Blacks undone by ferocious Springboks. One point nail biter makes South Africa the only four time World Cup winner. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)
Fourteen players for most part of the game did nothing to make the All Blacks fall over and surrender, but they did fall short as South Africa lifted the World Cup rugby for a record fourth time in a one-point thriller at Stade De France stadium in front of a sold out crowd.
Reduced to fourteen men in the 29th minute when All Blacks skipper Sam Cane was yellow carded for a crude head high collision, it was later upgraded to a red, which put pressure on the All Blacks to cover the advantage handed to the Springboks for nearly 60 minutes.
Millions of fans were glued to an epic confrontation between two of the best teams ever to play the game. The one point difference underlined the ferocious tenacity between them.
Things were on even terms early in the second half when Springboks skipper Sia Kolesi was sin binned in the 45th minute. But while the infringement appeared similar to Sam Cane, Koelsi only spent 10 minutes on the bench with the review not upgrading it as expected. All Blacks coach Ian Forster was not impressed in his post match interview.
It was a bruising encounter as expected, as both teams fought a fiercely contested battle and New Zealand can reflect on what might have been if they capatilised on their crucial chances.
Four World Cups to South Africa has confirmed them as the best in the world and it was history making for Skipper Sia Koelsi who got to hold aloft back to back William Webb Ellis trophies. He was humble in his post match comments underlining how much winning it meant to the people of South Africa in its unification.
They came to this edition defending champions, but underdogs behind Ireland and perhaps the All Blacks.
Referee Wayne Barnes faced a barrage of abuse on social media for handing out four yellow cards to both sides, one which was upgraded to red. Most of those decisions were not his, but the prompting from the video reviews. There were questions around whether handing one side such an advantage was fair in the context of a final. But the rules are now fashioned to protect players from serious injury by players who are reckless.
All Blacks had their chances off snatching the lead for the first time, and victory seven minutes from the end, but Jordie Barrett was way off target with a 49 metre penalty.
All Blacks scored the only try in the game and Richie Mouanga missed the conversion. They were denied twice more with a knock on after Aaron Smith went over reversed by the TMO which spotted a knock on earlier. Desperate cover defence stopped Rico Ioane on another occasion as he was bundled into touch about a metre from the line.
South Africa had one opportunity which was knocked on over the tryline.
On reflection, the All Blacks will rue their refusal to kick at goal for the opportunities presented, while Handre Pollard kicked the four that went South Africa’s way and this was the ultimate difference.
The game had all the ingredients of the expected arm wrestle, where the team possessing superior physicality emerged on top. South Africa tackled the All Blacks to a standstill. Some of the bone crunching tackles could be felt by those watching. It was the catalyst that unsettled the team that crashed and bashed their way to the final against Ireland and Argentina.
South Africa opened scoring through a Pollard penalty and by the half added three more penalties to the All Blacks two.
A 12-6 lead at the half suggested a Springboks win as no team has ever trailed at the short break and went on to win at any edition of previous World Cups. It played out as expected, although the All Blacks kept them scoreless in the second half while scoring the only try through a Mouanga, Beauden Barrett combined effort.
The All Blacks will return home with lessons learned but sadly most of them won’t be back to rectify a disappointing campaign.
The Springboks on the other hand reminded the world that they can never be written off.
