New Zealand and South Africa meet in Saturday's Rugby World Cup final with the All Blacks holding a three-two head-to-head advantage.
New Zealand and South Africa meet in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final with the All Blacks holding a three-two head-to-head advantage. Photo by VINCENT AMALVY / AFPNew Zealand and South Africa meet in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final with the All Blacks holding a three-two head-to-head advantage. Photo by VINCENT AMALVY / AFPThe Pienaar/Mandela moment
The fairytale outcome itself was a surprise as the New Zealanders, armed with imposing wing Jonah Lomu, looked unstoppable. The two heavyweights met again in a final four years later – only it was the one nobody wants to be involved in, the third-place playoff. “Playing in the playoff game was like having to lip kiss your grandmother,” All Blacks flyhalf Andrew Mehrtens told The Herald Scotland in 2009.New Zealand got a measure of revenge with a routine 28-9 victory over the Springboks in the quarter-finals.
Beauden Barrett – who will line up on Saturday – scored one of their two tries as the New Zealanders’ defence held out for the last 10 minutes.
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