Rugby World Cup 2023 final: New Zealand vs South Africa match preview, team news, kick-off time

New Zealand last appeared in a World Cup final in 2015

New Zealand and South Africa are bidding to become the first nation to win the Rugby World Cup for a fourth time on Saturday in Paris.

It is a repeat of the 1995 final which the Springboks won thanks to a Joel Stransky drop-goal in extra time.

The All Blacks won the first World Cup in 1987 before securing back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2015.

The sides last met in August at Twickenham with South Africa inflicting a record 35-7 defeat on New Zealand.

South Africa beat England 32-12 in Japan four years ago to win their third title, 12 years after defeating England 15-6 in Paris in their second World Cup final.

The defending champions beat Scotland in their opening Pool B match in France, but finished second in the group after losing narrowly to Ireland.

One-point victories over France and England in the knockout stage have followed, with fly-half Handre Pollard kicking late penalties in both games.

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Captain Siya Kolisi would join Richie McCaw as the only captain to win back-to-back tournaments with victory at the Stade de France.

Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi is free to play after being cleared by World Rugby, who said there was "insufficient evidence" he had used a racial slur towards England's Tom Curry.

Ian Foster's All Blacks lost the opening game of the competition to France but have since been on an impressive run, beating the then number one-ranked side Ireland and Argentina to reach their first final since 2015.

All Blacks winger Will Jordan is only one score away from becoming the record try-scorer at a single World Cup, sitting level with Jonah Lomu (1999), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015) on eight tries, while veteran lock Sam Whitelock could become the first player to win the World Cup three times.

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World Cup final venue and kick-off time

The final takes place at the 80,698-capacity Stade de France in Paris and kicks off at 20:00 BST.

Team news

Jacques Nienaber makes two changes to the XV that started the semi-final win over England, with half-backs Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard replacing Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok.

Both Reinach and Libbok drop out of the matchday squad completely, with Nienaber opting for a 7-1 split of forwards to backs on the bench. Willie le Roux is the only back replacement.

South Africa, now ranked as world number one, have a starting XV with a total of 987 caps while New Zealand, who are second in the rankings, have 981.

New Zealand make one change to their starting XV as lock Brodie Retallick replaces Sam Whitelock from the side that beat Argentina in the semi-final.

Brothers Scott, Jordie and Beauden Barrett retain their places in the starting XV from the side that cruised past Argentina in the semi-finals.

Line-ups

South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Nyakane, Kleyn, Snyman, Smith, Wiese, Le Roux.

New Zealand: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo'unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Retallick, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.

Replacements: Taukei'aho, Williams, Laulala, Whitelock, Papalii, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.

View from New Zealand camp

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster: "This is what World Cup finals are about. I don't think there's ever a small one. The fact is we have two teams who have been old foes for a long time.

"We all remember the last final between us [in 1995], which was an epic, and hopefully this one will be the same. Then you do the maths and we've got three World Cups each and someone is going to win four, so it's a special occasion, isn't it?

Captain Sam Cane: "A lot of it comes down to our preparation. We've got a lot of experience in this squad and it would be silly not to tap into some of that. We've been really clear how we have built how we want to play as a team.

"In terms of head and strategy we're in a good place and with that comes confidence. There will be a high level of emotion and intent to start the game well, there always is.

Wing Will Jordan: "In 2022 we were a bit astray but we have come out of the fire a bit and the big thing for us now has been that consistency has been found.

"We have been able to put back-to back performances together, which is probably what was missing before. The challenge for us against South Africa is to be able to go three big games in a row."

View from South Africa camp

Head coach Jacques Nienaber: "In a final it's about the final. I don't think the past will have any bearing on what's going to happen on Saturday.

"Every quarter-final, semi-final is tough. Each Test that you play has got specific tests that you have to pass to win the Test. It is almost like an exam you write. The one thing that will help us is the character that you build going through those games."

Captain Siya Kolisi: "We've prepared as hard as we can. We know what to expect. I don't think as a player it will ever get any bigger.

"They just turned it around quietly, behind the scenes they were doing their work and now they are here. We had to find our way too."

Wing Cheslin Kolbe on covering the scrum-half position should Faf de Klerk have to leave the field of play: "Whatever plan the coaches have, it is up to the players to buy into it as soon as possible. For me, with a bit of a sevens background, I have played at scrum-half or sweeper, as we call it, and I have played one or two games internationally at scrum-half.

"Faf has given me some input to make sure I am up to standard in case I am in that position, but I am sure Faf will carry us through to the end."

• The history and rivalry of New Zealand v South Africa

Match officials

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Assistants: Karl Dickson (England) and Matthew Carley (England)

TMO: Tom Foley (England)

Match facts

Head-to-head record

• New Zealand have won three out of five World Cup meetings between the sides, this includes wins in their last three meetings

• In the past 10 meetings the All Blacks have won five games with South Africa winning four, with one draw in 2019

• New Zealand have won 59% of their Test matches against the Springboks - their lowest win rate against

New Zealand

• New Zealand have averaged the most line breaks (13.5) and best gain line success rate (61%) of any side in this year's competition

• Wing Mark Telea has beaten a tournament-high 31 defenders from just 40 carries

• Sam Whitelock could become the first player to win the World Cup three times after victories in 2011 and 2015

• Will Jordan is on a four game try-scoring run - only Jonah Lomu in 1999 has ever scored in five-straight matches at a single World Cup

South Africa

• South Africa are the only nation to never lose a World Cup final

• The Springboks have never conceded a try in a World Cup final

Route to the final

Previous Rugby World Cup finals

1987 - New Zealand 29-9 France - Auckland

1991 - Australia 12-6 England - London

1995 - South Africa 15-12 New Zealand (AET) - Johannesburg

1999 - Australia 35-12 France - Cardiff

2003 - England 20-17 Australia (AET) - Sydney

2007 - South Africa 15-6 England - Paris

2011 - New Zealand 8-7 France - Auckland

2015 - New Zealand 34-17 Australia - London

2019 - South Africa 32-12 England - Yokohama

What happens if it's a draw?

If the scores are tied after 80 minutes, we will have extra time of two 10-minute halves. If there is still no winner, the game will go to sudden death, in which whoever scores the first points in the 10 allotted minutes wins.

Should we still be unable to separate the two sides, the game will go to a kicking competition.

Only five players from each side who were on the pitch at the end of the match can take a kick. If both sides are successful with their five attempts, this will continue on a sudden-death basis until someone misses.

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