Well…
Not what I expected.
What I did expect was a tough battle against two titans of world rugby as they duked it out for the honour of becoming the first ever four-time world champion.
What we got was certainly the latter part but not quite the former. Whilst the score read 12-11 in favour of the Springboks, only the All Blacks turned up to play. They were the only side that regularly attacked and the only side to actually score a try (it would have been two but I’ll come back to that).
South Africa, on the other hand, did the same as they did against England and France. They didn’t really attack and instead tried to force as many penalties as they could to which they gained their 12 points.
It’s an odd change in tactics given they’re so famous for their fast-paced, fluid and bold style of rugby. We saw it in the pool stages but where the All Blacks just played more and more like themselves at each stage of the competition, South Africa held back. A lot.
Many said it was a great final but I felt cheated. I felt cheated because I suspect foul play. The red card for Sam Cane so early in the match was something that’s been see many times throughout the tournament and I truly believe it was him just going for the tackle whilst Jesse Kriel changed direction and lowered himself. Not one commentator called out potential foul play on Kriel’s part and were all in favour of Cane getting sent off. It was certainly feasible that Kriel directed his head into Cane’s shoulder looking to get him sent off. It certainly happened.
We then had a suspect knock-on brought to referee Wayne Barnes’ attention within 90 seconds of New Zealand scoring the first try of the match. Aaron Smith had crossed the line thinking he’d just given the All Blacks a much needed boost when it was struck off by the TMO’s despite Wayne Barnes saying there was no knock-on. Footage showed No. 8, Ardie Savea, slightly tapping the ball forward but only after a South African hand had intervened. Whilst Barnes acknowledged the Springbok infringement and awarded New Zealand a penalty (which was missed) the try should have remained as the referee had already made an on-pitch decision. I do not think it’s correct for the TMO’s to interfere when the referee has already stated he’s happy with the flow of play. For me, that was the second piece of suspicious activity.
The third came from Faf de Klerk who was indeed faffing about with the All Blacks No.1 at a breakdown when he more than ample space to run around the man and get the ball. Yet, a penalty was awarded.
The final suspicious thing that happened came was Springbok, Eben Etzebeth. Four times!
One, this beauty right in front of the referee on All Blacks captain, Sam Cane, minutes before his own red card. Etzebeth went unpunished.
Two, for running passed the New Zealand scrum half during a ruck and causing an obstruction which was not penalised.
The third was for being clearly offside during a ruck.
And fourth was for a high-diving tackle at head height.
Now, if the TMO’s are so eagle-eyed that they can deny an All Black try for a teeny-tiny tap of a ball, they can certainly get involved when a near-as-dammit 6′ 7″ Springbok plays fast and loose with the rules and the physical health of his opponents.
The Rugby World Cup official Youtube channel has this final as the “Most DRAMATIC Rugby World Cup final ever”
I’d say it was one-sided with the all-English officials being in favour of South Africa. Yes, they got their penalties and yellow cards but this final was not in the spirit of the game of rugby. It had a very ominous air of Formula One about it. To the untrained eye, it was a spectacle, but to those who look beyond there was something artificial in how things played out.
New Zealand would have certainly won had Richie Mo’unga converted their try and had Jordie Barrett scored that penalty in the last ten minutes. But even then, there was something uncharacteristic with how those kicks were executed.
And then the strangest thing was that this was three finals matches where South Africa won by a single point.
Against a rampant France, odd penalties were given to disrupt Les Bleus and against a cool yet conservative England, more odd penalties landed in favour of the Springboks.
And here, at the final in 2023, certain curious behaviours goes unchallenged if committed by a Springbok compared to an All Black.
The last time I remember odd decisions affecting the path to a World Cup final was in 2015 when my beloved Scotland were denied a place in the semi-finals against Argentina over a dubious decision made by the referee after a lineout. An alleged knock-on saw Australia awarded a penalty and Australia went on to face Los Pumas then the All Blacks in the final.
The winning margin that night? One point.
Had Scotland been allowed to win, they’d have beaten Argentina and faced off against the All Blacks in their first ever final. However, I suspect World Rugby wanted Australia in there to increase viewing figures.
And so too, I think South Africa were granted clemency to set up an historic final. The All Blacks didn’t help help as they held out against Ireland then steamrollered Argentina. The Springboks, however, should not have won against France or England but I suspect World Rugby deemed neither team worthy of bumping up the viewing figures and raising the profile of the sport around the globe.
You’ll have noticed I’ve not spoken much about the actual rugby. That’s because there wasn’t much rugby being played. Instead, I fear the Rugby World Cup is succumbing to the temptations of higher viewership’s and the cash that follows.
I pray the Six Nations and Rugby Championship do not follow suit.
Thoughtful Meanderings 