Martin Lange / Photo credits: MILLEREAU PHILIPPE / KMSP / KMSP VIA AFP
After its victory against England this Saturday (15-16), South Africa joins New Zealand in the final of the Rugby World Cup. These are the two best nations in the southern hemisphere battling it out for the trophy and the record for World Cup victories.
South Africa, defending champion, meets New Zealand in the final of the 2023 World Cup for a clash between two teams who know each other well: “the past does not count”, assured the assistant coach of the Springboks Deon Davids.
These are the two best nations in the southern hemisphere facing each other. In addition to the trophy, both teams are competing for the record of World Cup victories. “It’s a final that was not unexpected. It was normal that we found these two great teams who are three times world champions each,” explains Serge Blanco, rugby consultant for Europe 1.
If the two teams have already faced each other five times in the World Cup, the results are rather favorable to the Blacks who have won three victories to two. However, the only final, in 1995, went to the Boks’ advantage. South Africa also won 35-7 against the New Zealanders last August just before the World Cup.
A South African selection in difficulty?
However, according to Serge Blanco, the South African selection is not really the favorite: “I would have said before the competition that they were favorites against England’s fifteen. This South African team could very well have lose. They will meet a Blacks team which is no longer at all the one which had a bad season”.
Blacks who are gaining strength. They crushed Argentina in the semi-final 44-6 and will also benefit from an extra day of rest to prepare for this shock.