Pollard kicks South Africa to World Cup triumph after Cane red card

A first-ever Rugby World Cup final red card proved pivotal as New Zealand captain Sam Cane’s dismissal enabled Handre Pollard to kick South Africa to a 12-11 win and record fourth title. 

Pollard – who missed the start of the World Cup due to injury before being called up late – kicked four penalties, with Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi possibly lucky to avoid red himself for a head-on-head tackle on Ardie Savea, and Cheslin Kolbe sin-binned late on for a deliberate knock-on.

New Zealand scored their points through two Richie Mo’unga penalties and a Beauden Barrett try – with Aaron Smith having a further score ruled out – and refused to give up despite being down to 14 from the 29th minute, but they could not take their chances to ever lead in the contest, as Jordie Barrett missed a long-range penalty late on.

Cane’s red card came due to a high tackle which made contact with the head of South Africa centre Jesse Kriel, with World Rugby’s foul play review bunker feeding back the act had a high degree of danger, with no obvious mitigation.

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James Cole outlines how South Africa won their record fourth Rugby World Cup title after overcoming New Zealand who were reduced to 14 men after captain Sam Cane’s red card.

The All Blacks were reduced to 14 players less than three minutes in, when Frizell was rightfully penalised by TMO Tom Foley for falling onto the standing leg of South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonami at a ruck, causing a knee injury in the process.

Pollard kicked the first points of the final after that incident, before much of the early proceedings were dominated by kicking out of hand, despite South Africa facing 14 players.

Pollard struck for 6-0 when the All Blacks were penalised at the breakdown, and only the bounce of the ball denied Ardie Savea a try in response down the other end off a Jordie Barrett chip kick. New Zealand had been playing on penalty advantage, allowing Mo’unga to kick over for 6-3.

On 20 minutes, a harsh breakdown penalty against Savea saw a Pollard strike from distance creep just over the bar.

Eben Etzebeth soon knocked on in the carry just outside his 22, but it was a scrum New Zealand would not get to attack from as, after a review, Cane was dismissed for his high tackle on Kriel.

Six minutes from the end of the half, Pollard stretched the lead out to two scores, but New Zealand’s 14 reacted heartily before the break, with Frizell and Rieko Ioane both going close to tries – the latter after an attack had been disrupted by a clearly offside Etzebeth, who was very fortunate not to be sin-binned.

Mo’unga kicked over that penalty to leave things 12-6 at the break, but New Zealand facing an extremely tough ask.