The Springboks are the Rugby World Champions for a record breaking fourth time. On Saturday the Springboks beat the All Blacks 12-11 in a nail-biting final at Stade de France in Paris to retain the Webb Ellis cup.

The All Blacks had to play the final the most part with just 14 players on the park after their captain, Sam Cane, was red carded for a head contact during a tackle in the 28th minute. There is no doubt this is the moment that changed the outcome of the World Cup, but it certainly didn't stop of the All Blacks from fighting to the bitter end.

In a tense final, the Springboks were sublime in the first half to hold a 12-6 lead at the half time break courtesy of four penalties by Handré Pollard.

The All Blacks first half points came through two penalties off the boot of the flyhalf, Richie Mo'unga.

In the second stanza the All Blacks were in the game a lot more despite being a player short, and the only points game via an unconverted Beauden Barrett try.

There was a nervy period for the Springboks when their captain Siya Kolisi was yellow carded for head contact in the 46th minute. In the last ten minutes the Boks were reduced to 14 men again when Cheslin Kolbe was sin-binned for a deliberate knock.

The Springbok ultimately did enough to hold on for the narrowest victories to rewrite the history books.

The flanker, Pieter-Steph du Toit, was named as the Player of the Final for his outstanding defensive effort.

Du Toit said there pure grit managed to pull them through for a third straight game.

“I guess as a team we like drama,” said Du Toit.

The last three games have been quite tough. We played each one as a final and each one was won by one point. It shows the resilience of the team.”

The Springboks become just the second team in history to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup.

Scorers:

Springboks: Pen. – Pollard 4

All Blacks: Try – Beauden Barrett Pen. - Mo'unga 2

Springboks - 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

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 - 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot

Replacements - 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Dalton Papali'i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown

Morgan Piek OFM Sport