Four finals, four wins.
South Africa further solidified their invincible finals record at the Rugby World Cup in Paris this past Saturday, bagging an unprecedented fourth championship trophy.
The Springboks’ incredibly close 12-11 win over New Zealand not only marked consecutive World Cup titles but also reignited discussions about their place in the pantheon of the sport’s greatest teams ever.
Let’s dive into some jaw-dropping stats that reflect the Springboks’ recent triumph in the French capital.
Headlines Swooning Over the Springboks
- Matt Dawson Hails Springboks as ‘The Best World Cup Team Ever’
- ‘South Africa Didn’t Just Want It, They Needed It,’ Says Rugby Union Daily
- The Detailed Rugby World Cup Post-Mortem: What Just Happened?
Undefeated, Undisputed
South Africa’s flawless World Cup final record becomes all the more astonishing when you think that they weren’t even participants in the first two editions of the tournament.
Joining the international stage post-apartheid, the Springboks debuted in the 1995 World Cup as hosts and have since claimed victory in four of the eight competitions they’ve entered:
- They maintain a 100% win rate in finals, having defeated New Zealand and England twice each (in 1995 & 2023 and 2007 & 2019, respectively).
- They’ve managed to win these finals with just two tries in total, both scored during their 32-12 rout of England in 2019.
- Beauden Barrett’s try for New Zealand was the first ever try conceded by the Springboks in a World Cup final.
- South Africa is the first team to win back-to-back championships on foreign soil. New Zealand’s first of two consecutive victories came at home in 2011.
- Fourteen out of 23 players who competed in the 2023 final were also part of the 2019 win over England.
Living on the Edge
“Feelings of relief dominate my mind, especially since our last three matches were won by a single point, though we didn’t plan it that way,” said Head Coach Jacques Nienaber to BBC Radio 5 Live.
The Springboks have had razor-thin victories in their path to championship glory:
- Only five of 66 World Cup knockout games had previously been decided by a one-point margin, excluding third-place playoffs.
- The aggregate winning margin for South Africa during the knockout rounds—a mere three points—is the narrowest in World Cup history.
- For some perspective, the next closest was Australia with 17 points in 1991, followed by England with 31 points in 2003. New Zealand holds the record for the largest margin with 90 points in 1987.
Individual Mastery
Despite New Zealand having superior territory and possession metrics in the final, the Springboks’ defense was impenetrable:
- Pieter-Steph du Toit, named player of the match, led the team with a whopping 28 tackles.
- All starting forwards (except Bongi Mbonambi who was injured early on) recorded double-digit tackles.
- Franco Mostert attempted 49 tackles in the knockout stage alone, missing zero.
The Golden Boot of Pollard
Handre Pollard was not initially included in the Springboks’ 33-man squad due to a calf injury. However, when Malcolm Marx was ruled out, Pollard was called in and became a key factor in their championship run.
- Pollard had a flawless record, nailing all 13 of his kicks.
- He scored all 12 of South Africa’s points in the first 34 minutes of the final, while New Zealand’s Mo’unga and Barrett missed crucial kicks.
Battle-Hardened Champions
South Africa’s path to victory was anything but a cakewalk. They faced and defeated several top-ranking teams:
- Despite losing to the then world’s top-ranked Ireland in the pool stage, their earlier victory over Scotland paved their way to the quarter-finals.
- Their nail-biting wins over France, England, and finally New Zealand crowned them as champions once more.
And there you have it, the math and the magic behind South Africa’s latest World Cup win. Who said statistics couldn’t be riveting?
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rugby World Cup 2023 South Africa Victory
How many times has South Africa won the Rugby World Cup?
South Africa has won the Rugby World Cup four times. Their victories came in the years 1995, 2007, 2019, and most recently in 2023.
Who was named the Player of the Match in the 2023 final?
Pieter-Steph du Toit was named Player of the Match in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. He led the Springboks with a total of 28 tackles.
What’s remarkable about South Africa’s winning record in World Cup finals?
What’s truly astonishing is that South Africa has a 100% winning record in Rugby World Cup finals. They have contested in four finals and won them all.
How close were South Africa’s knockout stage matches in the 2023 tournament?
Exceptionally close. South Africa had the narrowest aggregate winning margin in knockout stage history, at just three points. They won each of their knockout games by a one-point margin.
Who was the highest-scoring player for South Africa in the 2023 final?
Handre Pollard was the highest-scoring player for South Africa in the 2023 final. He scored all 12 of South Africa’s points in the first 34 minutes of the game.
How many players from the 2019 victory participated in the 2023 final?
Fourteen out of 23 players who competed for South Africa in the 2023 final were also part of their 2019 World Cup win against England.
Was Handre Pollard originally part of South Africa’s 2023 World Cup squad?
No, Handre Pollard was not initially included in South Africa’s 33-man squad for the 2023 World Cup. He was added to the team when Malcolm Marx was ruled out due to injury.
What teams did South Africa defeat on their way to the 2023 championship?
On their road to the championship, South Africa defeated France in the quarter-finals, England in the semi-finals, and finally New Zealand in the final match.
Did South Africa face any top-ranked teams in the 2023 World Cup?
Yes, South Africa faced several top-ranking teams including Ireland, who were the world’s top-ranked side at the beginning of the tournament.
Was the 2023 World Cup the first time South Africa conceded a try in a final?
Yes, Beauden Barrett’s score in the 2023 final against New Zealand was the first try ever conceded by South Africa in a Rugby World Cup final.
More about Rugby World Cup 2023 South Africa Victory
- Rugby World Cup 2023 Official Site
- South Africa Rugby Official Statistics
- BBC Sport: Springboks Win 2023 Rugby World Cup
- ESPN: In-depth Analysis of South Africa’s 2023 Victory
- New Zealand All Blacks Official Site: Post-Final Reactions
- Pieter-Steph du Toit’s Player Profile
- Handre Pollard’s Career Stats
- History of Rugby World Cup Finals
- World Rugby Rankings
- Jacques Nienaber’s Post-Match Interview with BBC Radio 5 Live
10 comments
This article really dug deep into the stats. Love how it wasn’t just about the win but about the journey and individual achievements. Quality journalism right there.
never thought id be so into rugby but wow this was like a Hollywood movie ending. Somebody get Spielberg on the phone, this is blockbuster material lol.
Seriously, if they can win this many times, they’ve got the infinity stones or something. This is superhero level stuff!
Man, those Springboks are somethin else! 4 World Cups and not a single loss in a final, thats gotta be some kind of magic or something.
tbh i dont usually watch rugby, but this was too good to miss. Can’t believe they won all their knockout games by just one point. edge of my seat stuff!
Pieter-Steph du Toit is like the Captain America of Rugby. 28 tackles in one match? The guy’s a beast!
Been to both NZ and SA, the rivalry is intense. Glad to see such a close and respectful match. These are the kind of games that make history.
the stats are insane, someone gotta analyze this data and find out what’s the secret sauce for South Africa. Machine learning anyone?
one point games, are you kidding me? My heart can’t take this anymore. Springboks are the real deal.
Handre Pollard is like the Freddie Mercury of rugby. Wasn’t even supposed to be there and then nails it. What a story, man.