The Southern Hemisphere showdown for the Rugby World Cup final is officially set, erasing the memories of valiant performances by the other 18 teams in the tournament. For two decades, the Webb Ellis trophy has been claimed only by New Zealand or South Africa, and England’s dream of replicating their 2003 success looked promising until a dramatic turn of events in the closing moments of their hard-fought semi-final.
In contrast, New Zealand seemed to breeze through their semi-final match against Los Pumas, making it appear like a casual training session.
New Zealand vs. Argentina 44-6
The All Blacks demonstrated their dominance by scoring seven tries against Argentina at the Stade de France. While there were moments of hope for Argentina in the first half, New Zealand’s relentless offense ultimately proved too much. The game was so one-sided that New Zealand chose to play the final six minutes with only 14 players.
Star winger Will Jordan joined the elite club of Jonah Lomu, Bryan Habana, and Julian Savea, all with a record of eight tries in a single Rugby World Cup. In the final, he has the opportunity to break the record and etch his name in history.
For New Zealand, it’s a chance to win their fourth Rugby World Cup title as they face their rivals, South Africa, who they last met in the final in 1995.
Argentina, on the other hand, will compete in the third-place play-off against England, offering a rematch of their pool stage encounter. While the semi-final might have disappointed neutrals, it gives the All Blacks confidence as they prepare for the final showdown on Saturday.
South Africa vs. England 16-15
With South Africa as the favorites, England entered the semi-final firing on all cylinders. They dominated the match and adapted better to the wet conditions. Owen Farrell’s precise kicking led the way, with four penalties and a brilliantly executed drop goal, giving England a 15-6 lead for most of the game.
In the UK, the match drew the largest audience of the year on ITV1, surpassing popular shows like ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and the coronation of King Charles III in May.
South Africa managed to claw their way back into the contest late in the game. Handre Pollard’s experience shone through, setting up a well-placed line-out that led to a try for the Springboks and then kicking a long-range penalty to secure a nail-biting 16-15 victory.
Amidst a match marked by some contentious moments, allegations of a racist slur emerged against Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi, and both World Rugby and South Africa are conducting investigations.
The Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand is scheduled for Saturday, October 28th, at the Stade de France. England and Argentina will meet a day earlier for the third-place play-off.
- Semi-Final 1: New Zealand 44-6 Argentina
- Semi-Final 2: South Africa 16-15 England
- Quarter-Final 1: Wales 17-29 Argentina
- Quarter-Final 2: Ireland 24-28 New Zealand
- Quarter-Final 3: England 30-24 Fiji
- Quarter-Final 4: France 28-29 South Africa
As the world eagerly awaits the final showdown between the titans of Southern Hemisphere rugby, the stage is set for a historic clash in the quest for the Webb Ellis trophy.