Rugby World Cup Final: Numbers Behind Springboks

The Springboks enter uncharted territory with their fourth appearance in the Rugby World Cup final. It’s the Boks’ second RWC final against the All Blacks, a repeat of the 1995 Rugby World Cup final that South Africa famously won 15-12 after extra time. Both teams have won three titles each. 

The Boks are looking to become the second team to win back-to-back William Webb Ellis trophies after New Zealand (2011 and 2015). Jacques Nienaber included 10 players in the starting XV who also started in the 2019 World Cup final win against England. 

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RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL: THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE SPRINGBOKS’ HISTORIC SHOWDOWN WITH THE ALL BLACKS 

Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Eben Etzebeth, captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Faf de Klerk, Handré Pollard, Damian de Allende and Cheslin Kolbe all ran out against England in South Africa’s 32-12 2019 Rugby World Cup final win in Japan.

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Four of our very finest

But who will be the 2023 Men's 15s Player of the Year in partnership with @Mastercard?#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/1cYxib6r8Z

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 26, 2023

READ: Eben Etzebeth nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year award

They will join Os du Randt (1995 and 2007) and Frans Steyn (2007 and 2019) as the only Springboks to have won two Rugby World Cup crowns. 

Steven Kitshoff and Franco Mostert, who were on the bench in 2019, start. 

Willie Le Roux, who started at fullback, is the only back on the bench. Le Roux will cover flyhalf and wing.

Semi-final bomb squad hero RG Snyman is again on the bench.

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SOUTH AFRICA NAMED SECOND-MOST TEST-CAPPED STARTING XV IN SPRINGBOKS’ HISTORY 

South Africa’s starting XV combines for 987 caps, the second-most ever for the Springboks – the most is 891 against Samoa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Vermeulen was named Player of the Match in the 2019 final thrashing of England.

There's always one standout performer 🪄#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/9BXGAQtQOx

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 26, 2023

Kolbe (30 caps), Arendse (14) and Damian Willemse (38) are the only players in the starting XV with fewer than 50 caps. 

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Arendse has scored 13 tries in 14 tests for the Springboks since making his debut in June 2022, including one in each of his two tests against the All Blacks.  

Pollard has scored the third-most points of any player in Test history against the Kiwis (149). 

Only Matt Burke (Australia – 176) and Nicolás Sánchez (Argentina – 151) have scored more against New Zealand.

Pollard has kicked his past 14 consecutive goal attempts at Stade de France dating back to 2017. 

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RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL: FIVE CHANGES TO THE SPRINGBOKS FOR ALL BLACKS SHOWDOWN

The Springboks coaches made five changes to the World Cup final squad from their one-point semi-final victory against England, with two in the starting XV and three on the bench. 

The South Africa team is in 🇿🇦

Faf and Pollard start and a 7-1 bench split 👀#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/mXIYx49qmS

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 26, 2023

De Klerk and Pollard are reunited at half-back for the 25th time in Tests and the eighth time against the All Blacks. 

Former Ireland lock Jean Kleyn, Jasper Wiese and Trevor Nyakane, who replaced Vincent Koch, made the bench.