Springboks take fourth title after epic showdown
Siya Kolisi and his Springboks joined the rugby immortals as they landed back-to-back World Cups and their fourth in total.
The South Africans had to fight tooth and nail to overcome 14-man New Zealand, who had captain Sam Cane sent off in the first half 12-11 at the Stade de France.
Incredibly it was South Africa's third single point knockout win on the spin after similar margins over France and England in the previous weeks.
And they did after losing hooker Bongi Mbonambi in the third minute after he was injured when rolled by All Black back rower Shannon Frizzell.
Kolisi becomes the second man to lift The Webb Ellis Cup twice, after New Zealand's Richie McCaw, and his side now have one more title than the Kiwis.
And they become the second side to defend the Cup successfully after McCaw's New Zealand did the trick in 2015, backing up their 2011 victory.
Kolisi said: “There are no ways I can explain it. I want to give credit to the All Blacks. They took us to the end, they took us to a dark place.
“It shows what kind of team they are, to fight with a man down from early in the game. They put us under so much pressure.
“Credit to my boys too for the fight. I am just grateful we could pull it off.
“We lost our hooker in the early part of the game and we had to adjust to that. They put a lot of pressure on our line-outs but somehow we found a way.
“People who are not from South Africa don't understand what it means for our country. It is not just about the game.
“Our country goes through such a lot. We are just grateful that we can be here. I want to tell the people of South Africa ‘thank you so much'.
“This team just shows what you can do. As soon as we work together, all is possible, no matter in what sphere. In the field or in offices, it shows what we can do. I am grateful for this team, I am so proud of it.”
Bok back row Pieter-Steph du Toit, who had a stormer added: “As a team we like drama. We have had drama for the last three years, and I think it shows the resilience of the team and the whole of South Africa as well. I know 64 million South Africans are supporting us.
All Blacks head coach Ian Foster: “I am proud of our guys, to go down to that red card so early and fight our way back and give ourselves a chance is pretty special.
“I don't think it went wrong in any clear way, it was a real arm wrestle, both teams had their moments. I'm incredibly proud of the way we fought and to get within a whisker of pulling it off is heart-breaking.”
“This group is very proud to be All Blacks, very proud to play for their country and have worked incredibly hard to get here.
“While I am so proud of what we did and how we worked we have to give it to South Africa, they are a quality team.
“They have had a few close victories in this tournament and are a different class.”
