The Springboks celebrate their victory over the All Blacks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Photo: Matthieu Mirville / DPPI via AFP
The Springboks have been lauded for their winning performance in an "epic, seesawing contest" against the All Blacks in Paris this morning.
Described by media around the world as "enthralling", "thunderous" and "heart-pounding", the match had fans of both sides on the edge of their seats.
Writing for the BBC, Mike Henson said "the physicality never dropped".
"The breakdown was a bunfight. The line-out was a lottery of limbs. The gainline was cratered with big hits. Jordie Barrett and Damian de Allende charged at each other with wild abandon in midfield.
"New Zealand flung everything they had at the Boks, whose defence strained but stayed intact.
"After similarly narrow victories over France and England, South Africa have walked the hardest, narrowest route to the trophy."
Over at the Guardian, Robert Kitsen described the final as having "the feel of a truly momentous occasion," despite the wet weather in Paris.
"What an epic, seesawing contest it was. It will be remembered as a tale of two captains," he wrote.
"It was always going to be thunderous. These two fiercely proud nations have been playing rugby union against each other for 102 years but some games are bigger than others. You could see it in the faces of the South Africa players as they belted out the anthems and in focused Kiwi eyes during the Haka.
"In the event, it was South African bloody-mindedness that once again proved decisive. Incredibly they won all three of their knockout games by a single point, making light of all manner of adversity."
South Africa's flanker and captain Siya Kolisi (C) kisses the Webb Ellis Cup as he celebrates winning the France 2023 Rugby World Cup final match against New Zealand at the Stade de France. Photo: FRANCK FIFE / AFP
The Independent called the Springboks "the kings of rugby" in its headline, describing the match as a "ludicrous finale".
"The Springboks may not have been the most aesthetically pleasing team at this World Cup but they know how to win," wrote Luke Baker.
"Three consecutive one-point victories in the knockout stage, as first France, then England and finally their greatest rivals New Zealand were held at bay perfectly demonstrates the grit and intensity this team thrives on. The fact that have now won four out of four World Cup finals, yet not scored a single try in three of those matches is another telling stat."
He described Sam Cane's controversal tackle on Jesse Kriel - which saw him red-carded - as "high and reckles".
"His shoulder connected with the head of the Springboks centre and with no mitigation, his fate was sealed. It may have taken the Bunker Review system a few minutes to confirm his yellow card had been upgraded to red but Cane's despondent face as he initially trudged off suggested he knew what was coming.
"And the pure pain etched across his features every time the camera panned to him on the sideline for the rest of the game showed that he understood the magnitude of his error."
New Zealand captain Sam Cane comes off the field during the Rugby World Cup 2023 final between the All Blacks and South Africa at Stade de France. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Liam del Carme wrote for South Africa's Times Live that "the Springboks are on top of the rugby world but by a sliver."
"It was a tight and tense final that jangled the nerves and will no doubt be fiercely debated over the coming days," he wrote.
"The rugby gods brought these sides together but the Springboks may well thank their Rain Queen for delivering conditions that restricted the normally slick All Blacks.
"The wet conditions, though, contributed to the spectacle as it made for more thrills and spills than you might see in the Moulin Rouge.
"Given their seven/one bench split the Springboks were looking to rein the All Blacks in before suffocating them. They did not assemble their match-day squad with the intention of hanging it in the Louvre. They were hell-bent on going full Bastille on the All Blacks by caging them before breaking their resolve."
Meanwhile, the Springboks reacted to their own win by stripping down to speedos in the changing rooms.
Four years apart, reckon they've been washed?#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/P523y4ZwU1
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 28, 2023
