The World Cup gold is South Africa’s fourth and they are defending the title from the last championship in 2019. The champions are now looking forward to coming home and celebrating.
“Honestly, people who are not from South Africa don’t understand what this means for our country,” said Springboks captain Siya Kolisi after the final thriller and continued:
— It’s not just about the game on the field. Our country is going through so much. We are their hope.
The match was played at a rainy Stade de France, just north of Paris, and was watched by 80,000 spectators in attendance on Saturday night.
The All Blacks, as New Zealand’s national team is known, lost captain Sam Cane in the first half. He was awarded a historic red card, the first ever in a World Cup final, for a high tackle.
— That the boys had to play with 14 men for the last 50 minutes, Cane said regretfully after the game, but added:
— I thought the courage they showed here tonight was incredible, the whole team are absolute warriors.
It was the 106th meeting between the two rival rugby nations.