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VIDEO: 'They have learned how to fight in dark places'

REACTION: The trusty boot of a flyhalf and resolute defence again won the day for South Africa in a World Cup Final against All Blacks.

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Handre Pollard kicked four penalties to help South Africa to a nail-biting 12-11 victory over 14-man New Zealand in the World Cup Final at Stade de France in Paris on Saturday to claim a record fourth title.

More significantly, the Springboks maintained their unique record of never having lost in a Final – having triumphed against the All Blacks in 1995 and 2023, as well as England in 2007 and 2019.

It is also the third successive one-point win at #France2023 – having beaten the hosts 29-28 in the quarterfinal, England 16-15 in the semifinal and New Zealand 12-11 in the Final.

All Black coach Ian Foster started his post-match debrief by praising the Springboks.

“[It was] a heck of a Final,” Foster said in his opening remark to a post-match media briefing.

“There is always high emotion on both sides of the fence in a Final and this will be no different.

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“I want to congratulate South Africa for what they’ve achieved,” he said about the Boks’ 12-11 victory.

“They’ve shown a lot of character and tenacity throughout this tournament.

“That’s three close games they have come out the right side so they are doing something right.

“For us it’s heartbreaking.

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“I look at the effort of our team, the way we played and came back and gave ourselves a really good crack at that, the second-half, particularly after the red card in the first half and the damage that decision made

“Overall, incredibly proud of our team but we’ve got a disappointed shed.”

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Foster said the Springboks ‘know their game’ – a well-drilled plan they execute to perfection.

“They are strong,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “They are experienced.

“Clearly they have learned how to fight in dark places.

“You can’t argue with the three tight wins in this tournament.

“They’ve got a lot of tenacity in that [dark] spaces.

“They have the ability to play the game at their pace.”

The Boks had led 12-6 at half-time in Paris, Handre Pollard kicking four penalties to two from Richie Mo’unga.

The sole score of the second half was a Beauden Barrett try for a New Zealand team reduced to 14 after Sam Cane was red-carded for a high tackle after 34 minutes.

“There are no ways I can explain it,” said Bok captain Siya Kolisi, who also received a yellow card in the second half for a high hit.

“I want to give credit to the All Blacks.

“They took us to the end, they took us to a dark place.

“It shows what kind of team they are, to fight with a man down from early in the game.

“They put us under so much pressure.”

@king365ed
@rugby365com

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