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Springboks and All Blacks to create more ‘history’ in World Cup final
By Finn Morton
When the full-time whistle sounded at Stade de France on Saturday night, the Springboks and their supporters were filled with an immense feeling of both euphoria and relief. They were off to another World Cup final.
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Towering lock Eben Etzebeth was initially lost for words after making a guest appearance on The Big Jim Show as the South Africans look to become just the second nation to win back-to-back crowns.
But the challenge awaiting them in the final is ferocious. The All Blacks booked their place in the big dance with a commanding 44-6 win over Argentina on Friday night at the very same Siant-Denis venue.
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New Zealand and South Africa share one of the most intense rivalries in rugby, if not world sport. It’s a contest fuelled by respect, patriotism and passion – and another chapter will be written in just under a week.
Springboks versus the All Blacks in a Rugby World Cup final – it doesn’t get much bigger than that. The two great rivals haven’t met in rugby’s biggest Test since the dramatic decider of ’95 which saw Francois Pienaar hoist the Boks’ first World Cup.
“Very excited. As a kid we grew up listening to the radio on the battles between the All Blacks and South Africa, listening to the stories of the heroes from both teams over the years,” assistant coach Deon Davids told reporters on Sunday.
“It has been part of our rugby history, the Springboks and the All Blacks, and every time we play each other it is always a special battle and I don’t think this one will be different. I think it will maybe go to a different level in terms of the competition between the players – excellent talent in both teams.
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“It is going to come down to the day. It is how the team that handles the pressure, executes the best, or maybe one brilliant moment from one individual that turns things around, it might come down to things like that.
“We are very privileged and humble to make it so far, to be part of such a big week leading to this game.”
The All Blacks were clearly the best team in The Rugby Champions this year. New Zealand defeated Argentina, South Africa and Australia with relative ease throughout a practically perfect campaign.
But the Springboks’ revenge just before the sport’s showpiece event had the rugby world talking. South Africa inflicted a record defeat upon New Zealand as they won 35-7 at Twickenham two months ago.
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But the past is the past. Coach Davids doesn’t “think any of those previous encounters” matter ahead of a blockbuster decider.
“It is a fantastic and exciting week that lies ahead of us. Our battles with the All Blacks, there is a lot of history between us,” Davids continued.
“We have played them a couple of times this year but going into a World Cup final I don’t think any of those previous encounters count. It is a totally new game, under new circumstances, playing for the World Cup. We will have to be on top of our plan and our execution this week.
“You can see that throughout the competition New Zealand have been playing excellent rugby. They are also in a really good space, so it is going to be a hard-fought battle on Saturday and we need to make sure we tick a lot of boxes in our preparation.”
Fatigue will only be a factor if the All Blacks can dictate tempo.
The Boks will burn on pride alone if they have to.
Hoping both sides play positive attacking rugby.
As a Saffa I wanted this final more then anything Boks against the AB, now that it is a here I’m getting very nervous, our beloved Boks has not played their best rugby yet in this WC, I personally thought our best game was against Ireland no matter the outcome I believe Rassie wanted to see if Manie / FAF could kick under pressure, the two game the past two weeks we were actually outplayed it was only our never die attitude that got us over the line. We need our big name players to stand up and be counted this week otherwise a big hiding is coming. AB wants revenge for 35-7 loss and they are much fresher then the boks because of a easier pool / route to the final and they are playing good rugby at the moment. If we can stop them having a quick start and the longer the game goes on with maybe one score in it, then I think we can do it, if they lead halftime by two scores then it is all over for the boks. One thing I do know the boks will be motivated because it is the AB and that in it self will give them a lift 🥺
All this talk about SA being fatigued does not take into account how much each team respect each other. The Bokke will definitely be up for this game. They have their nation behind them and will sacrifice all for the cause. All started back in 1995 when Nelson Mandela endorsed and supported the team. An amazing occasion for SA. It meant so much to the nation at the time. Brought them all together. This game represents a watershed moment for our country NZ as it is a chance to rebalance the ledger for 1995 and especially our last game against them at Twickenham. All the best to both teams.
The Springboks are completely fatigued.
After surviving the pool of death and beaten France, it came as a surprise that the team was left unchanged.
How reckless, Mr Nienaber !
I expect at least 10 changes in the final Springbok squad . if not , NZL will destroy the Springboks .
Do not fool yourself, there is no respect from the kiwis, just listen to their latest weekly show with John Kirwan and you will know what I am talking about.
The quarter finals should be determined by the respective teams’ ranking at the start of the RWC. This way you ensure that rankings are important and relevant until the start of the tournament. This will also provide a better semi and final.
Example. If the rankings of 8 teams to top pools are as follows:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11.
QF:
Match A: 1 v 11
B: 2 v 9
C: 3 v 8
D: 4 v 5
Semis
Winner A v Winner D
Winner B v Winner C
People don't know who will play in QF's before tournament anyway.
“We are very privileged and humble to make it so far, to be part of such a big week leading to this game.”
SA and NZ MO:
While there have been some great games in this world cup I think the World Cup draw which has been an issue for decades will define this world cup. SA’s fatigue was there for all to see yesterday. They won (IMO) a miracle match against France and again they had to dig deep deep into reserves again to win V England. With England targetting a peak semi there was always going to be a difficult semi (against England) and an easy one.
That is why the Ireland/SA match was ‘like a final’. Both knew that the eminently easier route to winning the Cup was by winning that match and trying to win that Quarter to get the easy Semi.
When two of the QTRs are between top 4 teams then the toughness of the pool and the big pool matches proximity to the quarter final also comes into play.
NZ were the better team against Ireland but the draw meant that Ireland were playing a top 5 teams and potential elimination the week before the Quarter.
If SA had prevailed against Ireland then NZ would have faced a rested SA in the QTR and in my opinion would have prevailed.
Of the top 4 the team that perhaps has shown greatest fight is SA but they wil likely lose. The team that will win is the team from the top 4 that eas/will be more rested than their opponents during key knock out matches.
That is NZ
Changes that should be made for 2027:
-Draw is made later where seeding more likely reflect standard in 2027 world cup.
-Having Tier2 teams getting their week ‘Break’ before the semi si ludicrous. What use was that break to Chile for example.
-Likewise big pool deciders should not be held the week before the quarters. It means the winner of that match is at a potential disadvantage in the QTR against a team with no tough last pool game.
-Solutions for the above is that last round should involve 4th and 5th seeds so they get their break earlier in the pool schedule where it helps them
-Seeds 1-3 do not play eachother in last match
Thats as much as you can do