WE WON!!! South Africa makes history with Springboks’ Rugby World Cup 2023 VICTORY!

The Springboks have won the Rugby World Cup 2023, making history as the first team to ever win the trophy FOUR times (1995, 2007, 2019 AND 2023), and maintaining their proud record of never having lost a Rugby World Cup final. South Africa beat New Zealand 12-11. (The one point win being SA’s trend after we won 16-15 against England in the semi-final, and 29-28 against France in the quarter finals!)

The All Blacks fought a tough battle, but the Bokke were in it to win it from the get go, leading 6-0 13 minutes into the first half, thanks to two penalty goals from Hendre Pollard.

In the 17th minute, New Zealand pulled off its own penalty goal but Pollard hit back almost immediately with his third penalty goal, from long range nogal… securing South Africa’s lead in the 19th minute to 9-3.

By half-time, and another couple of penalty goals later for each team (South Africa’s by Pollard again), the score was 12-6.

The second half was a little more nail-biting as New Zealand upped its game, with the first try of the match after the Springboks missed a few tackles… but the TMO spotted a clear knock-on at the lineout and the points were taken away.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi played with his whole heart… but had to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin after he was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle in the 46th minute. (A devastated Cheslin Kolbe, whose 30th birthday was today, was also shown a yellow card in the last few minutes of the game, and sat with his face buried in his hands.)

With just over 20 minutes to go, New Zealand scored the first valid try of the match (by Beauden Barrett), putting just a point between the two teams (11-12) – both competing to be the first to win four Rugby World Cup titles.

The rest is now HISTORY! South Africa held on against a tough opponent to win the privilege of bringing home the Web Ellis Cup AGAIN!

CONGRATULATIONS BOKKE!!!! Lifting a trophy, lifting the pride of a nation, and the spirits of its people.