Ross Roche

By Ross Roche

Senior sports writer


Springboks beat All Blacks to win World Cup: All the key moments

In an incredibly tight game All Blacks captain Sam Cane was red carded in the first half, while there were three other yellow cards in the match.


The Springboks edged the All Blacks 12-11 in a breathless Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Saturday night to secure a record fourth Webb Ellis Cup.

It was an incredibly tight game that saw All Blacks captain Sam Cane red carded in the first half, while Shannon Frizell, Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe all also received yellow cards over the brutally fought match.

ALSO READ: Family man Jacques Nienaber to bow out on rugby world’s biggest stage

Here are the key moments that unfolded over the match:

Third minute: Double blow for Boks and All Blacks. At the ruck loose forward Shannon Frizell slides past and tries to clear Bongi Mbonambi off but ends up flopping on the player. It looks to be a serious knee injury and Mbonambi limps off the field while Frizell is yellow carded.

Pollard nails the resultant penalty off the upright and over for 3-0 lead.

12th minute: A superb kick pass to Damian Willemse eventually leads to Bok lineout in All Blacks 22m. After they secure lineout and attack, eventually All Blacks impede at the breakdown and the Boks get the penalty and Pollard knocks it over for 6-0.

17th minute: A few penalties to the All Blacks and they are on attack in Boks 22m, a chip over the top just eludes Ardie Savea and they go back for a penalty in the build-up. Richie Mo’unga knocks it over to make it 6-3.

19th minute: Boks earn penalty just inside own half on the angle after Savea goes off his feet at the breakdown. From 50m out on the angle Pollard slots the kick for a 9-3 lead.

Red card

29th minute: Sam Cane makes an ugly high hit on Bok centre Jesse Kriel and is sent to the bin with a yellow card while they review it in the bunker, with it eventually deservedly upgraded to red.

34th minute: Penalty at the breakdown in All Blacks 22m. Pollard knocks over the penalty for 12-3 lead.

38th minute: Fantastic try saving tackle from Kurt-Lee Arendse on Rieko Ioane, but All Blacks have penalty advantage and Mo’unga knocks it over to make it 12-6 at halftime.

42nd minute: All Blacks lose a high ball, Kolisi makes a break but holds on too long and the chance for a try is gone. Willemse then messes up a drop goal attempt.

45th minute: Cheslin Kolbe grubbers a ball ahead for Arendse but a foot in touch and he loses the ball over the tryline. Desperately close to a try.

46th minute: Kolisi is yellow carded for slight head contact in a tackle on Savea. Big call as Boks had an attacking lineout in All Blacks 22m, but is turned a penalty and yellow.

51st minute: Big call from All Blacks. Kickable penalty in Boks half but kick onto 5m for lineout, secure it and then knock on and Boks get to clear.

54th minute: All Blacks score through Aaron Smith but a few offences before, with Eben Etzebeth playing Brodie Retallick in the air at the lineout and Savea knocking on sees a penalty to the All Blacks instead of the try.

All Blacks score

58th minute: The All Blacks are through after a few penalties and attack from a lineout. Ball goes out wide and Mark Tele’a gets the ball away to Beauden Barrett and he scores in the corner. Mo’unga misses the conversion from touch to stay behind by a point.

60th to 64th minutes: The Boks lose two lineouts giving the All Blacks the upper hand, but two brilliant turnovers from Kwagga Smith get the momentum back for the Boks.

73rd minute: Huge call as Kolbie is yellow carded for a clear deliberate knock on with the All Blacks on attack on the halfway with a line break on the cards. Jordie Barrett lines up the long range penalty and he pulls it wide. It is 14 v 14 for the last seven minutes.

76th minute: Pollard drop goal attempt is charged down. Boks have gone for the drop goal option a bit too often in this match with none of them landing.

77th to 80th minute: Frantic finish as the All Blacks attack into the Boks half, Smith makes a superb steal but a wild pass from Jasper Wiese leads to Kriel having to kick it straight down field. All Blacks attack into Bok half again and knock on. The Boks secure the scrum and with time up a maul is called and sees the end of the game.

Access premium news and stories

Access to the top content, vouchers and other member only benefits