2023-10-22 00:22:16
We were waiting for them, and they responded. Favorites on each side of their semi-final, the two giants of rugby history, New Zealand and South Africa, will meet in the final of the 2023 World Cup next Saturday at the Stade de France. Accustomed to major World Cup events, the All Blacks and the Springboks have already crossed swords five times.
June 24, 1995: a final for history
It’s hard to dream of a better first World Cup clash between the two countries. After trapping the French , a jersey on the back. For their part, the New Zealanders had to deal with food poisoning, suffered two days earlier, and the theory of poisoning had never really been ruled out.
A historic final before its time, and full of tension on the pitch. Without any try scored, Jonah Lomu having stumbled throughout the match against an impressive South African defense, the two nations even found themselves in overtime at the end of regulation time (9-9). We had to wait for a drop from Joel Stransky in the 13th minute of overtime to crown the “Boks” and unify an entire country. The image of black President Mandela, green jersey on his back, handing over the Webb-Ellis trophy to white captain François Pienaar, after the end of the apartheid regime, went around the world, ultimately much more than that of the victorious drop.
An anecdotal 3rd place and a revenge in 2003
The two teams finally meet again during the following two editions. First in 1999 in England for a revenge “for butter”. Dominated to everyone’s surprise by France in the semi-final, the New Zealanders suffered a second defeat in a row against the “Boks” in the World Cup by losing (18-22) at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Unable to score a try again against South Africa, the Neo-Z suffered a catastrophic end to the World Cup and precipitated the departure of their coach John Hart.
The All Blacks will therefore wait 4 more years and the 2003 edition to finally take their revenge on the Boks in a one-sided quarter-final. This time around, it was South Africa being unable to score a try in attack and settling for three measly penalties. Opposite, the Blacks unfold (29-9). A revenge taken on the side of Australia, but which will not allow New Zealand to seek the title, blocked in the semi-final by the host country, crowned on its land.
A duel of giants in 2015
20 years after their historic clash in the final, South Africa and New Zealand offer another crazy match at Twickenham. After crushing the Blues in the quarterfinals (62-13), the All Blacks come up against completely different opposition. Manhandled, it took the genius of Dan Carter to put the New Zealand ogre back on track, 14 against 15, with a magnificent drop of 30 m over three steps (10-12, 46th). This is the start of the revolt of the XV de la Fougère which will end up winning by two small points (20-18), before going for the coronation more easily in the final against Australia (34-17) .
The last duel between the two teams will take place four years later in the group stage. In Japan, the All Blacks dominate the “Boks” without forcing (23-13) to take first place in the group. Switched to the other half of the table, ultimately more affordable, South Africa continues its journey against Japan, then against Wales before going for its third World Cup against England (32-12 ), partly thanks to the Blacks so…
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