New Zealand v South Africa predictions: All Blacks can edge titanic tussle
- New Zealand have won 62 of their 105 previous meetings with South Africa
- The All Blacks have scored 48 tries to South Africa’s 27 at the 2023 World Cup
- Recommended bet: New Zealand -2.5 handicap @ 10/11
Four years on from beating England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan, South Africa are back in the title decider on Saturday against fellow three-time world champions New Zealand.
These sides have produced some of the most memorable games in Rugby World Cup history and Saturday's showdown at the Stade de France promises to add another epic chapter to one of the best rivalries in the sport.
Team news
South Africa have confirmed their squad in typically early fashion, with Handre Pollard's inclusion at fly-half the big talking point.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber started Manie Libbok in the semi-final against England but the stand-off was given the hook after just 30 minutes.
Pollard, who kicked the Boks to a 16-15 win over England, has been given the No.10 jersey as one of two changes, with scrum-half Faf de Klerk coming in for Cobus Reinach.
After a convincing 44-6 win over Argentina in their semi-final, New Zealand head coach Ian Foster is unlikely to make too many, if any, changes to his starting XV to face the Boks.
The stats
These sides have met each other on 105 occasions, with New Zealand winning 62 times and South Africa 39. There have been four draws.
The All Blacks have been prolific in attack at this year's World Cup, scoring 48 tries to South Africa’s 27 en route to the final.
New Zealand’s Will Jordan looks set to finish as the tournament’s top tryscorer and has eight tries to his name already ahead of Saturday’s showpiece.
Both teams have conceded just 77 points en route to the final.
Going back to the first World Cup in 1987, there have been only 11 tries scored across the seven World Cup finals at an average of 1.57 per game. And no player has scored more than one try in a Rugby World Cup final.
Prediction
Despite losing 35-7 to the Springboks in a warm-up game at Twickenham prior to the World Cup, New Zealand have won the pair's last two competitive meetings.
The fact New Zealand secured a comfortable win in their semi-final against Argentina 24 hours before South Africa battled past England could swing Saturday's final in the All Blacks’ favour.
South Africa had to give everything to come back and beat England at the Stade de France and it’s hard to see them being able to produce another performance like that to defeat the fresher All Blacks this weekend.
With that in mind, backing New Zealand on the handicap could be the best approach in what is sure to be an enthralling finale to an excellent tournament.
