“I’d like to say well done to South Africa,” Cane said. “Back-to-back (champions), they have been a fantastic team.”
Fullback Beauden Barrett scored the only try of the game in the left corner, setting up a tense last 20 minutes.
He became the first player to score in two World Cup finals and scored the first try conceded by South Africa in a final. But flyhalf Richie Mo’unga’s touchline conversion attempt went wide and ultimately preserved the winning margin.
Both sides finished with 14 players as left winger Cheslin Kolbe was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on. Center Jordie Barrett took the penalty shot from nearly 50 meters wide of the right post but it sailed wide with Kolbe holding his head in his hands, unable to watch.
“It was a real arm wrestle,” New Zealand coach Ian Foster said “Incredibly proud of the way we fought and to get within a whisker of pulling it off is heart-breaking.”
Cane was sin-binned but referee Wayne Barnes pulled out the dreaded red after the punishment was upgraded late in the first half following a bunker review.
Sam Cane of New Zealand looks dejected after getting a red card.Credit: Getty
The All Blacks had already had a yellow card after three minutes to flanker Shannon Frizell. Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was sin-binned early in the second half, for another high tackle, evening the numbers with the score 12-6 to South Africa.
Saturday’s 106th showdown between the gigantic rivals was played on a wet field and pitted the two top-ranked sides.
Federer, wearing a South Africa scarf, and fellow tennis great Novak Djokovic were among the crowd of 80,065 who witnessed a gripping but scrappy game.
New Zealand scrumhalf A
…. to be continued
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