South Africa successfully defends RWC title after beating All Blacks 12-11 in a tightly contested final

South Africa has successfully defended their Rugby World Cup title after overcoming the All Blacks 12-11 in a tightly contested match and also become the second team to win the Webb Ellis Trophy back-to-back.

Handre Pollard kicked 4 penalties for the Springboks for the win.

The game was filled with a lot of errors and ill-discipline as referee Wayne Barnes flashed 4 yellow cards.

One of which was upgraded to red card where All Blacks captain Sam Cane delivered a dangerous contact to the head.

The Springboks opened the scoring in the first half with Pollard converting two penalty kicks at goal in the 3rd and 12th minute after the All Blacks was reduced to 14 men following a yellow card to flanker Shannon Frizell.

All Blacks’ Richie Mou’nga converted a penalty in the 16th minute to reduce the deficit to 6-3.

In the 18th minute, Pollard extended the Springboks’ lead to 9-3 after converting a penalty.

The All Blacks was reduced to 14 men for the second time in the game after captain Sam Cane was yellow carded in the 29th minute for a dangerous tackle before it was upgraded to a red card following a review by the TMO.

In the 33rd minute, Pollard kicked another penalty to increase the lead to 12-3 before Mou’nga replied in the 37th minute with a penalty to reduce the gap to 12-6.

South Africa led 12-6 at half time.

The second half was a more tightly contested match as Beauden Barrett scored the first try of the final in the 58th minute with Mou’nga missing the conversion and trail 11-12 which happened to be the the only points scored in the second half.

The Springboks were flashed yellow cards in the second half to captain Siya Kolisi in the 45th minute and Cheslin Kolbe in the 72nd minute.

The All Blacks applied pressure on the Springboks in the dying stages of the game but the defending champions showed determination in their defence to keep New Zealand at bay and force them into errors which proved to be the winner for the Springboks in the end.