Boks v All Blacks: The A to Z of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final

It’s the 2023 Rugby World Cup final between the Springboks and All Blacks, in Paris, on Saturday night (9pm).

Here The Citizen takes a look at everything you need to know about the big match at the Stade de France, from A to Z.

A is for Ardie Savea: The All Blacks No 8 is their key man up front, a powerful ball-carrier, but also a strong defender and menace at the breakdowns.

B is for ‘Bomb Squad’: The eight men on the Boks’ replacements bench hold the key to the result; if the seven forward replacements do their job, the Boks will win.

C is for Cheslin Kolbe: The little winger has had a great World Cup and with his experience and hard running from the back, he’s one of the Boks’ biggest weapons.

D is for Defence: Who’s defensive will be strongest? The Boks are the best in the business, so the question is, how do the All Blacks go about breaching it?

E is for Eben Etzebeth: The enforcer up front for the defending champions has a huge role to play in the lineouts, as a carrier and defender … if he shines, so will the Boks.

F is for Faf de Klerk: The Bok No 9 is back in the starting team; his box kicking and defence around the scrums, rucks and mauls will be key. He needs a big game.

G is for Game-plan: Will it be the Boks’ power, defence and forward-based game that comes out on top, or the All Blacks’ up-tempo, passing, off-loading, phase game?

H is for Handre Pollard: Also back in the starting XV, the experienced No 10 has a huge role to play, as distributer, decision-maker and crucially, line and goal-kicker.

I is for Injuries: With just one back on their bench, the Boks won’t want any early injuries, and neither will the All Blacks … the world wants to see the best 23s against each other.

J is for Jacques Nienaber: It’s the Bok coach’s final game in charge before he heads to Ireland and a new job. He’s been great for the Boks and will want to finish on a high.

K is for Kicking: Box kicking, touchline kicking, long kicking … and goal-kicking. Heck, even drop-kicking. It’s going to be a big part of what should be a close and tight final.

L is for Luck: The bounce of the ball, an intercept, a fortunate charge down … every team needs a bit of luck, and there’s sure to be some of it going around inside the Stade de France.

M is for Mark Tele’a: The All Blacks winger, who has an SA connection, has been a real find for the All Blacks … he’s a serious threat out wide and the Boks will need to watch him.

N is for Nonsense: Let’s hope there are no silly TMO interventions or bizarre decisions by the officials and that the game ends after 80 minutes with no controversies or incidents.

O is for Ox Nche: The Bok prop has been a revelation, playing a big part in the Boks beating France and England due to his powerful scrumming, and he’ll again play his part in the final.

P is for Physicality: Can anyone stand up to and match the Boks’ intensity and power game over 80 minutes? Is there a more physical team in the game?

Q is for Questions: Who has more tricks up their sleeves … who will ask the most questions, in the scrums, lineouts, mauls and at the back, the All Blacks? Maybe the Boks?

R is for Rassie Erasmus: The mastermind of the Bok team has kept everyone guessing in France. The Boks have picked a 7-1 bench, but what will Erasmus and Co now come up with in the final?

S is for Siya Kolisi: The Bok skipper is looking to join Richie McCaw as the only back-to-back World Cup winning captains. An inspiration for South Africa, will this be Kolisi’s day, and swansong?

T is for Territory: The result will hinge on who wins the territory battle and scores points in that red zone. Both teams will want to spend as much time in the opposition 22m area as they can.

U is for Underdone: The Boks have had a tough road to the final, they’re battle-hardened; the All Blacks have enjoyed an easier journey … will they be underdone, or the Boks over-cooked?

V is for Victory: Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how the job gets done, the only objective over 80 minutes is to get the victory … on this occasion for a fourth World Cup title.

W is for Wayne Barnes: The Englishman will be the man in charge of the biggest game in 2023 and here’s hoping he gets most of his calls correct and contributes positively to a memorable final.

X is for X-factor: Who’s got more of it … who’ll be the game-changer — Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian Willemse, Kwagga Smith, Aaron Smith, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie?

Y is for Yellow cards: Discipline is always crucial, but in a final probably more so; no team wants to have a player yellow-carded, or worse, red-carded, and out of the game.

Z is for Zeal: The word is described as: “great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause of an objective”. Both the Boks and All Blacks have it … but who’ll come out on top?