Who is South Africa’s highest points scorer in Rugby World Cup FINALS?
The Springboks maintained their ‘perfect’ record in Rugby World Cup finals, winning for the fourth time in Paris on Saturday.
The Springboks maintained their ‘perfect’ record in Rugby World Cup finals, winning for the fourth time in Paris on Saturday.
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The Springboks are undefeated in Rugby World Cup finals having beaten New Zealand 15-12 (after extra time) in 1995, England 15-6 and 32-12 in 2007 and 2019, respectively, and the All Blacks again once again in 2023 (12-11).
In total, the Springboks have scored 74 points in those four finals.
Those 74 points have come via two tries, two conversions, 18 penalties and two drop goals.
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Only SIX players have ever scored points for the Springboks in a Rugby World Cup final.
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THEY ARE (FROM MOST TO LEAST):
Handre Pollard – 34
Joel Stransky – 15
Percy Montgomery – 12
Makazole Mapimpi – 5
Cheslin Kolbe – 5
Frans Steyn – 3
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1995 (BEAT NEW ZEALAND 15-12)
Penalties: Joel Stransky (3)
Drop goals: Stransky (2)
2007 (BEAT ENGLAND 15-6)
Penalties: Percy Montgomery (4), Frans Steyn (1)
2019 (BEAT ENGLAND 32-12)
Tries: Makazole Mapimpi, Cheslin Kolbe
Conversions: Handre Pollard (2)
Penalties: Pollard (6)
2023 (BEAT NEW ZEALAND 12-11)
Penalties: Handre Pollard (4)
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Meanwhile, a look at the Springbok line-ups for the four finals makes for interesting reading.
The number of players permitted for selection has changed over the years from 21 (in 1995) to 22 (in 2007) to 23 in both 2019 and 2023.
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WHICH SPRINGBOK TEAM DO YOU CONSIDER THE BEST?
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1995
15 Andre Joubert, 14 James Small, 13 Japie Mulder, 12 Hennie le Roux, 11 Chester Williams, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Mark Andrews, 7 Ruben Kruger, 6 Francois Pienaar (captain), 5 Hannes Strydom, 4 Kobus Wiese, 3 Balie Swart, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Os du Randt
Substitutes: 16 Nake Drotske, 17 Brendan Venter, 18 Rudolf Straeuli, 19, Johan Roux, 20 Garry Pagel, 21 Gavin Johnson
2007
15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt
Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Wikus van Heerden, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Andre Pretorius, 22 Wynand Olivier
2019
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duan Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 ood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn
2023
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jasper Wiese, 23 Willie le Roux