South Africa’s Rugby World Cup win is a lesson in discipline
In the end, the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup wasn’t decided by a high-risk selection strategy, a bold use of the bench or a freakish drop-goal with seconds to play. Instead, it was the oldest truism in rugby that won the day – keep your discipline.
South Africa are Rugby World Cup champions for a record fourth time, led by their talismanic captain Siya Kolisi in defeating the New Zealand All Blacks 12-11 at the Stade de France in Paris. Kolisi and his Springboks lived up to their promise to bring the cup home for an embattled nation, and that desire was crucial.
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi kisses the Webb Ellis Cup after leading his team to their second consecutive Rugby World Cup Final victory. Getty
But in an epic final in which many factors played a part, it was discipline that proved to be South Africa’s greatest strength and the All Blacks’ Achilles heel. And for the All Blacks, losing by a point largely on the back of losing the discipline battle will be especially hard to swallow because they knew discipline was going to be a bigger deal at this World Cup than ever before.
On September 1, in our first column, we wrote: “Hear it now – the fortunes of all 20 teams competing in France will live or die on discipline and minimising penalties.” With so much attention on minimising concussions, and new protocols that allow initial yellow cards to be upgraded to red, everyone knew any contact with an opponent’s head would be very closely scrutinised.
And yet on 28 minutes All Black captain Sam Cane was yellow-carded for a reckless head shot on Jesse Kriel. When it was upgraded to a red card by Irishman Brian MacNeice in the bunker, it condemned New Zealand to effectively play 62 minutes with only 14 men.
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