The All Blacks and the Springboks have a lot more to play for than just the Web Ellis Cup as they battle for the only the second time since the historic Rugby World Cup final in 1995.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane says the biggest reason they want to play well is to make New Zealand proud.
He says the support has been truly overwhelming and makes them feel special and proud to be a Kiwi.
Cane says the want to go out there, do the ultimate job and make them happy and this is their biggest driving factor.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi who lifted the Web Ellis Cup in 2019 says winning the World Cup will mean the most for the country and it will change many lives again.
He says lifting the cup again will be amazing for the Springboks and they will become one of the best teams ever to have played in the World Cup history.
The All Blacks and Springboks will clash for the 106th time – and for the second time in a Rugby World Cup final – when they do battle at Stade de France at 7am tomorrow.
The two nations have been playing test rugby against each other since 1921, when New Zealand emerged victorious from the first encounter in Dunedin 13-5.
Up until 1996, the All Blacks had never won a series on South African soil, while the Springboks had claimed their first series in New Zealand in 1937.
Across the 105 tests, the All Blacks have won 62, the Springboks 39 and four matches have been drawn.
At Rugby World Cups, the two have played five times – New Zealand winning three and South Africa two.
Only once before have they met in a World Cup final, where South Africa were the victors in 1995 and lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time.
The last time the two played each other at a World Cup was the opening match of the 2019 tournament in Japan, the All Blacks won 23-13.
At World Cups, the points tally stands at All Blacks 102 to South Africa 77.
New Zealand have scored 2,185 points against their old foe, South Africa 1,728.
Winning streaks for either team over the other are a rare occurrence.
The Springboks held a 19-year streak of six matches between 1937 and 1956 while the All Blacks held an eight-match streak from 2001-2004 for their longest periods of dominance in the tie.
At neutral venues, New Zealand have won four and South Africa three – the last of these was at Twickenham on the eve of the World Cup in which the Springboks dominated.
There is little to separate the sides when they play in neutral territory in terms of matches won or points scored, the total points are locked at 145 apiece.
Dan Carter has the most points scored in the contest with 221, with Andrew Mehrtens in second on 209.
Beauden Barrett (174) and Handré Pollard (109) are third and fourth respectively for total points scored in matches between the two nations and are the only two players in the top 15 who will feature in tomorrows final.
SOURCE: Virgin Media Sports, NZ Herald
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