South Africa Beat New Zealand By A Point To Win Record Fourth Rugby World Cup Title

Handre Pollard kicked four penalties to help South Africa to a nail-biting 12-11 victory over 14-man New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday to claim a record fourth title. As is so often the case with finals, the match was a tight, edgy encounter at a rain-soaked Stade de France where defence ruled and the All Blacks lost captain Sam Cane to a first-half red card for a high tackle. But the Springboks prevailed to win a third successive knockout match in this tournament by a point and add to their titles in 1995, 2007 and 2019.

Player of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit said: "The last three games have been quite tough, each one we have played has been a final and each one we have won by one point.

"As a team we like drama. It has helped us through the last few years, it shows the resilience of this team.

"We are honoured to play for the whole of South Africa and the Springboks. When we go back home it will be a warm welcome for us."

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi added: "Honestly, people who are not from South Africa don't understand what this means for our country.

"It's not just about the game on the field. Our country goes through such a lot. We are the hope they have."

The game, with tennis stars Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic among the 80,000 spectators, got off to a dramatic start.

All Black flanker Shannon Frizell was yellow carded by referee Wayne Barnes after just two minutes for an illegal ruck clearout that saw Bok hooker Bongi Mbonambi, the sole specialist number two in the squad, leave the pitch with an injured right knee.

Pollard kicked the penalty as Deon Fourie, a 37-year-old flanker, replaced Mbonambi, who was cleared earlier in the week of using a racial slur against England flanker Tom