South Africa beats New Zealand to claim record fourth Rugby World Cup

afr.com:

Paris | Defending champion South Africa kicked its way to a record fourth Rugby World Cup title by beating New Zealand 12-11 on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) after All Blacks captain Sam Cane was the first player to be red-carded in a final.

Flyhalf Handre Pollard scored all the points for a Springboks side, which repeated its 1995 success over New Zealand and denied the All Blacks their own chance to win a fourth title in their record fifth final.

Jesse Kriel of South Africa celebrates with Eben Etzebeth the team’s victory in the Rugby World Cup Final against New Zealand in Paris.  Getty

Cane was shown the red card for a high tackle on centre Jesse Kriel. Three other players were sin-binned — two Springboks and one All Black — in a chaotic match.

Fullback Beauden Barrett scored the only try of the game in the left corner, setting up a tense last 20 minutes.

He became the first player to score in two World Cup finals and scored the first try conceded by South Africa in a final. But flyhalf Richie Mo’unga’s touchline conversion attempt went wide and ultimately preserved the winning margin.

Both sides finished with 14 players as left winger Cheslin Kolbe was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on. Centre Jordie Barrett took the penalty shot from nearly 50 metres wide of the right post, but it sailed wide with Kolbe holding his head in his hands, unable to watch.

Cane was sin-binned but referee Wayne Barnes pulled out the dreaded red after the punishment was upgraded late in the first half following a bunker review.

The All Blacks had already had a yellow card after three minutes to flanker Shannon Frizell. Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was sin-binned early in the second half, for another high tackle, evening the numbers with the