The two three-time champions and the current top two men’s sides in the world, according to the World Rugby Men’s Rankings Capgemini, meet in the final of Rugby World Cup 2023 on Saturday at 21:00.
Defending champions South Africa recovered from a pool phase defeat, against pre-tournament favourite, Ireland, to book their place in the showpiece match with two one-point victories over France and then England in the knockout phase.
Head coach Jacques Nienaber has made five changes to his match-day squad from the one-point semi-final victory over England, with two in the starting XV and three in a 7-1 split bench.
In total, 10 players in the starting XV also started the Rugby World Cup 2019 – Mbongeni Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Handré Pollard, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe. Steven Kitshoff and Franco Mostert, who were on the bench in 2019, start this time. Willie Le Roux, who started four years ago, is the only replacement back this time. RG Snyman is again on the bench.
South Africa assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said the key was to select the best team specifically for New Zealand:
“The key for us as a coaching staff was to select the best possible 23 players to be able to perform against New Zealand. We know they have very special players in their team and we know they want to keep the ball in play. If you look at the balance, for us to be able to have seven fresh forwards in the second half, that was one of our key focus points to go for the seven-one [bench split].
“It worked for us once before [against New Zealand before the RWC]. Against Ireland when we lost in the group stages, in that game we really performed well, we just missed out by a couple of points. When you look at our history, it has worked for us before. That’s why against the All Blacks it is key to have fresh forwards on the field because we know the challenges we face, especially with ball in play.”
Difficult though it may be to believe, the All Blacks opened their Rugby World Cup challenge with a 27-13 defeat against France at Stade de France. Some 50 days and 47 matches later, they return to contest the final.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has made only two changes to the team that beat Argentina 44-6, with Brodie Retallick replacing Samuel Whitelock in the second row, and Nepo Laulala replacing Fletcher Newell on the bench, while the All Blacks’ starting backline is identical to the one that lost 35-7 to the Springboks at Twickenham in August.
New Zealand head coach Ian Foster identified two areas of the Rugby World Cup final that will be decisive:
“The set piece will be massive. In previous World Cups, the execution of the roles in that area has always been critical. It’s an area where we have a lot of confidence in our game. For all the pressure, for all the different occasions, rugby is quite a simple game. You have to do well on your own ball, you have to control the set piece. I don’t just mean the forward stuff, I mean the forward-back connection and how you use the ball in those early phases. I reckon that’s a key part of it.
"And after that, there’s how you deal with each team’s strengths. They’ll be trying to deal with our strengths and trying to figure out how to negate them, and we’ll have to deal with their strengths to make sure they don’t get into that comfortable space. Both teams are in the same camp and that’s what I love about it."
Teams:
Springboks: 1 Steven Kitshoff, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter-Steph Du Toit, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 9 Faf de Klerk, 10 Handre Pollard, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15 Damian Willemse. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jasper Wiese, 23 Willie Le Roux.
All Blacks: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (c), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 11 Mark Tele'a, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan, 15 Beauden Barrett. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Samuel Whitelock, 20 Dalton Papali'i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
