This is it.

Fifty days of rugby has led us to tonight, and a Rugby World Cup final between the two most dominant teams in the tournament’s history.

Yes, it’s not the final that any Irish rugby fans were hoping for… but it promises to be unmissable viewing.

So, who’s it going to be — New Zealand or South Africa?

Kick off at the Stade de France is at 8pm.

Earlier today, we asked that very question… and you’re giving New Zealand the slight edge — but there isn’t a huge amount in it, to be honest.

If the rain keeps falling in Paris, will that change things?

TEAM NEWS: One change to the All Blacks team which steamrolled Argentina last Friday night; Brodie Retallick returns to the second row with Sam Whitelock dropping to the bench.

New Zealand

• 15. Beauden Barrett 
• 14. Will Jordan 
• 13. Rieko Ioane 
• 12. Jordie Barrett 
• 11. Mark Tele’a 
• 10. Richie Mo’unga 
• 9. Aaron Smith 

• 1. Ethan de Groot 
• 2. Codie Taylor 
• 3. Tyrel Lomax 
• 4. Brodie Retallick
• 5. Scott Barrett 
• 6. Shannon Frizell 
• 7. Sam Cane (captain) 
• 8. Ardie Savea 

Replacements:

• 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho 
• 17. Tamaiti Williams 
• 18. Nepo Laulala 
• 19. Sam Whitelock 
• 20. Dalton Papali’i 
• 21. Finlay Christie 
• 22. Damian McKenzie 
• 23. Anton Lienert-Brown

TEAM NEWS: Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the pre-match talk around the team selections has focused on South Africa. It’s Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard in the half-backs… and with Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber again opting for the 7/1 bench split, that means that there isn’t even a place in the matchday 23 for Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok.

South Africa

• 15. Damian Willemse
• 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse
• 13. Jesse Kriel
• 12. Damian de Allende
• 11. Cheslin Kolbe
• 10. Handré Pollard
• 9. Faf de Klerk

• 1. Steven Kitshoff
• 2. Bongi Mbonambi
• 3. Frans Malherbe
• 4. Eben Etzebeth
• 5. Franco Mostert
• 6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
• 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
• 8. Duane Vermeulen

Replacements:

• 16. Deon Fourie
• 17. Ox Nche
• 18. Trevor Nyakane
• 19. Jean Kleyn
• 20. RG Snyman
• 21. Kwagga Smith
• 22. Jasper Wiese
• 23. Willie le Roux

Just under 10 minutes to kick off, and South Africa definitely have the numerical advantage in the stands:

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

After both national anthems, the strains of La Marseillaise ring out around the Stade de France while New Zealand prepare for the haka.

KICK OFF: We’re up and running – Beauden Barrett gets us underway, and Damien Willemse fires his return straight back into touch to give us the first lineout of the evening.

New Zealand 0-0 South Africa

2 mins – Eben Etzebeth gets a hand in to disrupt New Zealand’s second lineout, but it the ball comes back on the All Blacks’ side and they regroup.

New Zealand 0-0 South Africa

3 mins – Worrying moment here for South Africa as Bongi Mbonambi needs treatment on a knee injury. It happened at the breakdown — and as we see the replay, it looks like a neck roll from Shannon Frizell as he cleared Mbonambi out.

New Zealand 0-0 South Africa

YELLOW CARD! Frizell is sent to the bin — Wayne Barnes very clear that it was an illegal clear-out for dropping his weight onto Mbonambi — and it’s going to be a bunker referral as well. It could get even worse for Frizell and the All Blacks.

New Zealand 0-3 South Africa

3 mins — PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! After a lengthy delay and the TMO review, Handre Pollard points to the posts and slots the penalty to give South Africa the early lead.

New Zealand 0-3 South Africa

4 mins – Mbonambi won’t be able to continue, which is a devastating blow for the Boks. Deon Fourie is on to replace him.

New Zealand 0-3 South Africa

8 mins – A lot of kicking from both sides in the opening exchanges, and Pollard drops a real tester on top of Mo’unga inside the 22. Kolbe puts in a good chase to put him under pressure, but he knocks it on in the air. Scrum All Blacks close to their own try line.

New Zealand 0-3 South Africa

8 mins – Still waiting for word on that bunker review. Anxious times for the All Blacks…

New Zealand 0-3 South Africa

9 mins – Another high ball for Mo’unga to deal with, and he manages to call the mark just as Pieter-Steph du Toit levels him. And at the next high ball, du Toit is there again as first man up with the tackle.

New Zealand 0-3 South Africa

12 mins – Good field position for South Africa as they make some big carries inside the 22, and New Zealand are pinged for offside at the breakdown.

New Zealand 0-3 South Africa

Frizell’s yellow card will remain yellow — the advice from the bunker is that although he fell on Mbonambi’s leg, he wasn’t targeting it, and so it should not be upgraded to red. That’s a huge relief for the All Blacks.

New Zealand 0-6 South Africa

14 mins — PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! South Africa decide to keep the scoreboard ticking over and it leaves an easy one for Pollard.

New Zealand 0-6 South Africa

14 mins – Faf de Klerk takes out Mark Telea off the ball, and Wayne Barnes spots it immediately. New Zealand kick to touch, just outside the 22, and Taylor finds Scott Barrett…

New Zealand 0-6 South Africa

16 mins – Penalty advantage to New Zealand…

New Zealand 0-6 South Africa

16 mins — Oh my days. With advantage still being played, Jordie Barrett tries a beautiful chip over the top. Ardie Savea is right there but the ball hops up into Willemse’s hands and he grounds it in goal. Back for the penalty.

New Zealand 3-6 South Africa

17 mins — PENALTY NEW ZEALAND! It’s a straightforward one for Richie Mo’unga, and New Zealand are on the board.

New Zealand 3-6 South Africa

19 mins – Ardie Savea looks bemused as he’s pinged at the breakdown for not showing a clear release. The offence is back practically on the halfway line, but Pollard will test his range…

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

20 mins – PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! And Pollard just about makes it, the ball practically kissing the crossbar as it barely drops over. That was out towards the touchline as well, so practically anything in the opposition half is kickable for Pollard this evening by the looks of it.

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

23 mins — A let off for South Africa as de Klerk spills the ball forward at the back of a ruck, but Wayne Barnes calls it as backwards.

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

25 mins – BIG lineout steal from Eben Etzebeth!

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

26 mins – Etzebeth tries to get in and disrupt another lineout, but this time he does it illegally by taking Retallick’s hand. New Zealand kick to touch.

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

27 mins — And this time Taylor overthrows the lineout completely, and South Africa scoop it up again. They have the New Zealand lineout under serious pressure.

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

29 mins — YELLOW CARD! Sam Cane hits Jesse Kriel shoulder to head, and after the TMO invites Wayne Barnes to have a second look, it’s a clear yellow card and bunker review. Cane faces an anxious wait here to see if the bunker officials can find some mitigation because on first glance, it doesn’t look great for him.

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

30 mins – Now it’s time for the All Blacks to make a nuisance of themselves at the lineout as Retallick gets a hand in to steal on Fourie’s throw.

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

31 mins – Beauden Barrett kicks from deep but really overcooks it and it rolls dead, which brings us all the way back into the New Zealand half for a scrum.

New Zealand 3-9 South Africa

32 mins — New Zealand draft in Jordie Barrett to have eight in the scrum and it leaves a space in midfield which South Africa attack. Kolbe tries a little kick through for Arendse to chase but he’s in touch as he plays it forward.

RED CARD! Sam Cane sent off for foul play

The bunker review finds no mitigation for Sam Cane — it’s foul play and New Zealand are down to 14 for the remainder of the game.

New Zealand 3-12 South Africa

35 mins — PENALTY SOUTH AFRICA! Just before that bunker review, some massive counter-rucking from South Africa forced the turnover penalty inside the New Zealand 22. After brief deliberation by Siya Kolisi — and a pause for the bunker review — Pollard kicks the penalty to put South Africa nine up.

New Zealand 3-12 South Africa

36 mins – It feels like a long way back from here for New Zealand…

New Zealand 3-12 South Africa

37 mins – Or maybe not. New Zealand are on the march and Telea makes good ground. Penalty advantage being played for an offside against Etzebeth, and it’s New Zealand’s cue to go wide to Ioane. He runs out of room out wide, and it’s back for the penalty.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

38 mins — PENALTY NEW ZEALAND! Mo’unga takes the three.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

39 mins – Retallick steals a South African lineout, but then Pieter-Steph du Toit absolutely levels Jordie Barrett with a tackle in midfield — that’s his 14th tackle of a very busy first half.

HALF TIME: New Zealand 6-12 South Africa 

Off we go for a short break. It’s compelling viewing, even if the conditions haven’t allowed it to develop into a classic — but six points and a man up at the break, you can bet South Africa will be pretty happy with their half’s work there.

Still, as that last New Zealand attack showed, the fight’s not over yet.

Back in a few.

Chaotic first half and given how much of the game they've been down to 14 men for, a 12-6 deficit not the worst for All Blacks.

But they'll have to do it the hard way without skipper Sam Cane in the second half. First red card in a World Cup final.

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) October 28, 2023

All Blacks applying huge pressure on Deon Fourie's throw.

Brodie Retallick has already picked off two at the front, that last one went over the top.

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) October 28, 2023

SECOND HALF: We’re back underway.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

41 mins — HUGE change for South Africa to really wrestle control of this game in the first minute of the second half, but Siya Kolisi fluffs his lines. Beauden Barrett spills a high ball straight back to South Africa, and Kolisi has a chance to pass it to Kriel but dawdles for a moment, and then passes to de Allende. He’s held up as he drives for the line and it’s a goalline drop out.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

42 mins – Willemse tries to send the dropout straight back with a drop goal, but scuffs it.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

45 mins – Arendse! This was nearly one of the iconic World Cup tries. Beauden Barrett thinks he’s shepherding the ball into touch and just eases off his run a touch, and Arensde slips down his outside and scoops the ball before it goes dead. Fortunately for Barrett and New Zealand, it slips out of his hand as he dives for the line and is spilled forward.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

46 mins — YELLOW CARD! Siya Kolisi is off to the bin and a bunker review for head-on-head contact in the tackle. It’s a clear yellow card for starters —  but what will the bunker officials make of that one?

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

48 mins – It’s 14 on 14 for the next eight or so minutes — can New Zealand make that numerical parity count?

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

51 mins – Lovely break by Codie Taylor who jinks around a few tackles to get New Zealand on the front foot, and then South Africa disrupt it when offside. New Zealand go to the corner.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

52 mins – Kolisi’s yellow will stay yellow; most of the force went through the body before the head contact.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

52 mins – Big chance for New Zealand, but they pick the wrong option and go back down the blindside to Will Jordan, who juggles the pass. It’s lost forward.

TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!

55 mins – New Zealand’s backline clicks and Mo’unga does brilliantly to swerve Arendse, and then stand up both Willemse and de Allende for just long enough before passing to Aaron Smith who dives over on what will be his final New Zealand appearance!

Or will it count? We’re having a look at a possible knock on by Ardie Savea…

NO TRY!

It’s ruled out. Ardie Savea knocked it forward at the very start of that phase of play. We’ll restart with a New Zealand penalty though for an infringement by Etzebeth at the lineout.

New Zealand 6-12 South Africa

57 mins – New Zealand lineout, five metres out. They set the maul…

Penalty advantage being played to New Zealand…

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND! (B Barrett, 59′)

They’ll have a good look at this one — but it counts! New Zealand have their try.

Telea drops the ball as New Zealand look to go wide, but it goes backwards out of his hands and Beauden Barrett scoops it up and runs in the opening try of the evening.

It’s a tough conversion for Mo’unga and it hangs just right on him.

One-point game!

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

61 mins — Now it’s New Zealand who are laying ruin to the South Africa lineout. Even with Kolisi back and the Boks at their full complement, it’s hard not to feel the dynamics of this game shift slightly in the last few minutes.

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

64 mins – New Zealand are working the ball through the phases, but they’re being driven back closer and closer to the halfway line. They go wide to Jordan, but Kwagga Smith rips the ball cleanly from him for the turnover.

A brief break in play here. We’ll take it.

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

66 mins – South Africa break through Kolbe, and although Wayne Barnes’ whistle has already gone, six or seven players don’t hear it and they think they’re involved in a life-or-death battle on the New Zealand tryline. Eventually we go back to the halfway line all the way over on the other side of the pitch for a scrum for the initial knock on.

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

70 mins – Ten minutes to play. One-point game. All the marbles on the line.

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

71 mins – Cheslin Kolbe lines up the most audacious drop goal attempt from inside his own half, but it’d take a miracle for it to get there.

72 mins – Big break from New Zealand through Lienert-Brown and then Telea. They’re up to edge of the 22… but the whistle goes. We’re coming back to the half way line for a penalty advantage…

YELLOW CARD! Cheslin Kolbe for a deliberate knock on. We’ll finish the game with 14 vs 14.

This penalty is more than 50m out, but Jordie Barrett is going to have a go…

New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

74 mins — MISSED! Barrett had the distance but at the expense of the accuracy. He misses left but not by much, and New Zealand will have to find another chance somehow. Six minutes to do it.

76 mins – Pollard tries the drop goal. Blocked. New Zealand can counter here. Huge tackle by du Toit on Jordie Barrett. Essential.

South Africa lose it forward. New Zealand scrum in their own 22. They’ll have the ball and three minutes to go the length of the pitch — nearly the exact same scenario that faced Ireland a fortnight ago, except this time, any score will win it for New Zealand.

Faf de Klerk makes a huge block on Christie’s kick! New Zealand lineout in their own 22.

Two minutes to play…

Faf with the vital tap tackle just as Papali’i tried to break clear!

New Zealand at half way. Just over a minute left. Can they get into position for a drop goal?

New Zealand spill it forward – but it’s off the boot. We play on. South Africa hack clear. New Zealand come again. One last shot.

They’ve lost it forward.

Twenty-three seconds left on the clock. South Africa will have put-in to the scrum. New Zealand have one last chance to force something against the head and against the odds.

New Zealand had a huge push there – but Wayne Barnes calls for a reset.

Clock stopped. Seven seconds left. Here we go again.

FULL TIME: New Zealand 11-12 South Africa

South Africa just about manage to get the ball out of the back of that scrum… and that’s it. It’s all over. South Africa have won the World Cup!

SOUTH AFRICA WIN RECORD FOURTH RUGBY WORLD CUP!

Well… let’s take a breath here. It wasn’t a classic by any stretch of the imagination — and by the standards of some of the games we’ve seen at this tournament — but it was absolutely absorbing right to the death and those final frantic seconds.

And in the end, South Africa go back-to-back and they are world champions again!

And not that all news is local, but South Africa coach Felix Jones is now a two-time World Cup winner!

Pieter-Steph du Toit is the Player of the Match. After 28 tackles, it’d be hard to argue.

Murray Kinsella reports live from the Stade de France tonight. Read his match report here >

Springboks cling on against 14-man All Blacks to go back-to-back 

CHAOS, CARDS, and clamour. It was hard to think in the stands of Stade de France at times tonight, so we can only imagine what it was like on the pitch amid the frenetic scenes of this World Cup finale.

As has become their habit, the Springboks kept their heads just enough to edge home, securing back-to-back World Cup trophies and a record-setting fourth for their great rugby nation.

That’s where we’ll leave you for the night, but stay with us here on The 42 across the rest of the evening for lots more reaction and analysis following South Africa’s record fourth World Cup victory.