The Rugby World Cup final arrives as the All Blacks take on reigning champions the Springboks for the sport’s ultimate prize. Join The Roar for live scores and play-by-play updates from 6am (AEDT).
All Blacks coach Ian Foster is on the verge of one the biggest redemption stories after surviving the axe in 2022 and is 80 minutes away from a World Cup title and some very nervous New Zealand rugby officials after his position was taken up by Scott Robertson for 2024.
The All Blacks have been blessed with a low injury count throughout the tournament and have made minimal changes as they roll out the most experienced sides in a World Cup final.
Meanwhile, the Springboks coaching team has rolled out the 7/1 bench split that is a big call in such an important game. They won’t have the luxury of making any changes to their backline after 30 minutes this week.
With wet weather expected, it could end up being a stroke of genius from Rassie Erasmus and we to bow down to worship him as he claims back-to-back World Cup titles. The kicking games will come into it and the respective halves combinations will be in for a busy night with the boot and the respective wing pairings as they try to claim the high balls.
The All Blacks will want to have a handy lead as the game enters the last 20 minutes combined with a steady scrum, or the Springboks will try and inflict the same outcome they had against England when they came home with a wet sail on the back of a big scrummaging display.
Prediction
The All Blacks were well rested after their semi-final encounter and had an extra 24 hours to recover compared to the Springboks bruising efforts against England. All Blacks by 7.
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 6am (AEDT)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: New Zealand $1.70, South Africa $2.15 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
New Zealand
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Scott Barrett, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Ardie Savea, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Mark Telea, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Beauden Barrett.
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.
South Africa
1. Steven Kitshoff, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 3. Frans Malherbe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Franco Mostert, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 9. Faf de Klerk, 10. Handre Pollard, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Damian Willemse.
Replacements: 16. Dean Fourie, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Jean Kleyn, 20. RG Snyman, 21. Kwagga Smith, 22. Jasper Wiese, 23. Willie Le Roux.
MM
Roar Rookie
Glad someone caught the reference.
Double Agent The Second
Roar Rookie
Betfair
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
With what bookies where - none in Europe or in NZ. In NH Ireland were 3/1 and France 3/1. SA and NZ were both 7/2. After the warm up SA loss it dropped NZ lower.
Double Agent The Second
Roar Rookie
Who's no one? NZ were favourites with bookies to win the RWC. That was before the RWC started. They slipped to 2nd fav after their loss to France then returned to fav soon after.
Suzy Poison
Roar Rookie
Let's give Beauden Barrett some credit. The only player in four world cup finals to score a try against the Boks in the final. (That includes the late and great Jono Lomu who never scored a try against the Boks) It was because of a Mark Telea Break. Razor whilst battling with all the crew leaving can build a team around Telea and Jordan. The forwards are the issue, as the AB cupboard is bare. Also AB's fighting down to wire with 14 man shows some courage. But as a biased Bok supporter I always found Foster and Cane an insipid pair. Didn't Cane get Red Card in the Super final too? Discipline a problem for a while with AB's. For me Foster and Cane never have had the presence of Rassie and Siya. Rassie love him or hate him, is the mad scientist of Rugby. 7-1split, flashing disco lights, a 37year loose forward as your reserve hooker? WTF. Anyways, now it time for France to win the World Cup. Bored of the Green and Black jerseys. It's all over bar the shouting.
Rogue Estate
Roar Rookie
No one had us getting past Ireland or Sa in QF before the RWC kicked off.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Can ask and expect balanced and efficient refereeing.. but not today…
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Including a couple of un sanctioned late hits.. but heh that was the official agenda
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Ignore him, he doesn’t have a clue.
piru
Roar Rookie
He missed his target and grabbed Bongis neck as a desperate measure, folding into his leg. So not intentional then, glad we agree
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Boks weee neck rolling and hitting above the shoulders all day. No sanctions because of incompetent or biased officials
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
And manipulate the weak minded officials..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Richie M had an injured right hand just prior to his first knock on.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Pete had experience in that area !
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
What do you crush?.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
It seems Pete SAMU etc is good with mass debating..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Couple of Boks did that and nothing ..
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Still displaying your abject juvenile bias …
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
A positive, foster is now gone. He does not deserve a World Cup though the players did. Barnes and Foley should also be gone, too many costly errors for a game of this magnitude..
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
Didn’t ruin the game for me.