South Africa's journey to securing a historic 4th Rugby World Cup unfolded in a thrilling spectacle, marked by an intense battle against an experienced New Zealand squad. Several yellow cards, followed by a needless red card ultimately allowed the Springboks to preserve their title in a heart-pounding final showdown in Paris.
The game initially appeared to be in South Africa's control, bolstered by Handre Pollard's unwavering accuracy in goalkicking, which had already propelled them to a 9-3 advantage. However, a game-changing moment arrived in the 27th minute when Sam Cane's high tackle on Jesse Kriel prompted a red card upon review, plunging New Zealand into deep trouble and leaving them trailing by nine points, courtesy of another Pollard penalty.
Incredibly, New Zealand refused to back down, summoning their resilience and a touch of good fortune to claw their way back into the contest. Richie Mo'unga managed to slot a critical penalty just before halftime, and Beauden Barrett seized an opportunity, scooping up a loose ball and sliding over the try line after the interval, trimming South Africa's lead to a razor-thin 12-11.
The final quarter of the match unfolded as a gripping and energy-sapping battle, with both teams relentlessly pursuing a game-changing score. However, despite their best efforts, neither side could secure that decisive breakthrough. In the 73rd minute, Jordie Barrett's long-range penalty attempt narrowly missed the mark, and the Springboks clung to a narrow one-point lead, securing their third consecutive one-point victory in the knockout stages and etching their name in Rugby World Cup history once more.