Which team won the 2023 Rugby World Cup final by beating New Zealand 12–11?

South Africa won the 2023 Rugby World Cup final by beating New Zealand 12–11. The match was played at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on 28 October 2023.

The Springboks scored all 12 of their points through Handré Pollard’s four successful penalties. New Zealand scored a try through Beauden Barrett and added two points from Richie Mo’unga’s conversion, plus two penalties. New Zealand captain Sam Cane was sent off in the first half after a bunker review upgraded his yellow card to a red card.

The victory made South Africa the first men’s team to win four Rugby World Cup titles. The Springboks had previously triumphed in 1995, 2007 and 2019.

New Zealand’s narrow defeat followed their 2011 and 2015 titles. The one-point margin made the final the closest in the tournament’s history at that time, and it was South Africa’s second consecutive World Cup final victory.