2023 Rugby World Cup Final: 5 Key Battles Between the All Blacks and Springboks

The stakes could not be higher, as this match will write the next chapter into the Rugby World Cup history books. Both sides are out to become the first nation to win a record setting fourth Rugby World Cup, and solidify themselves as the best team in the world.

South Africa are the reigning World Champions, having earned the accolade four years ago, in Japan's Yokohama Stadium. The Springboks want to win back-to-back titles, and become just the second side to complete this feat after New Zealand's dominance from 2011 to 2015.

Both squads are brimming with Rugby World Cup winners, none more so than All Blacks second row Sam Whitelock, who's looking for a record-setting third Rugby World Cup winners medal. Both the All Blacks and Springboks boast star-studded line-ups, and we've selected five key battles to watch for this Saturday's Rugby World Cup Final.

This Saturday's match will feature three of the world's best fly-halves, with Beauden Barrett likely to once again run out at fullback for the All Blacks. New Zealand's number 10 jersey for the 2023 Rugby World Cup has long been obtained by Richie Mo'unga, who has been at his playmaking best for his side's fearsome return to form. This halfback battle takes a key focus on kick success, as Richie Mo'unga had a sub-par showing from the boot, in the semi-final win over Argentina.

Mo'unga missed four out of seven conversions against Los Pumas, leaving eight points on the pitch in Saint-Denis. Such margins thankfully did not matter for the All Blacks, who's 6-44 triumph stands as the second highest Rugby World Cup semi-final win of all time. However, Mo'unga can not afford to let such key points slip against tougher opposition, who are far less forgiving than Los Pumas. Namely the Springboks.

Throughout his 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign, Mo'unga has taken 30 shots at goal (29 conversions and one penalty), with just 18 of his efforts sailing through the uprights. This gives the fly-half a completion rate of 60%, which could well be a deciding factor if the South African defence grinds the match down to a halt, with penalties being the only way to get points on the board. The Springboks have shown their hand regarding their desire to succeed in this area, through Manie Libbok's unceremonious with-drawl in last weekend's semi-final against England.

Libbok was substituted off, with little over half an hours play on the clock. Rassie Erasmus showed his ruthless side, with Handre Pollard flung on to take the reigns from Libbok, who's kicking has come under constant scrutiny throughout his campaign in France. Libbok excels in all other areas of his game, however he needs to sharpen up when lining up shots at goal. Pollard will likely lead the Springboks out in the Rugby World Cup Final, after rescuing his side from the jaws of defeat against England.

Steve Borthwick's men were just three minutes away from back-to-back Finals, when Pollard slotted a thunderous penalty from just inside the England half. The Leicester Tigers man won't be very popular on his return to Welford Road, but will likely win his teammates back round with his excellent goal kicking. Pollard's accuracy from the tee was also the key difference in the epic quarter-final win over France, as he nailed a decisive penalty to stretch the Springboks lead away from Les Bleus.

The only time New Zealand and South Africa have met in the Rugby World Cup Final was in 1995, with the match decided by the finest of margins. No tries were scored in the kicking battle between Andrew Mehrtens and Joel Stransky, with Stransky's extra-time drop goal sealing an iconic win for the Springboks. Some 28 years later, the two Southern Hemisphere titans are back in the final, and the winner of the Web Ellis trophy come well be decided by who brought their shooting boots to the Stade de France.

South Africa's front row has now become a principle focus of their pre-match discussion, since Rassie Erasmus introduced the world to his 'bomb squad' at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. The tried-and-trademarked system sees the Springboks pick a match day 23, with an equally strong front row starting from kick off and, coming off the bench.

However, the Springboks have had their ranks thinned out at hooker, following the injury to Malcolm Marx. Considered amongst the best front rowers in the world, Marx sustained an untimely knee injury in training, and has not featured for the Springboks since their Rugby World Cup opener against Scotland. Marx's injury presented Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber with the opportunity to bring in a back-up hooker, however, the Springboks bosses instead re-called Pollard to the squad. A head injury to wing Makazole Mapimpi again opened the door for a back-up, yet it was centre Lukhanyo Am who got the call-up, ahead of any hooker reinforcements.

These selections have piled the pressure on South Africa's sole specialist hooker, Bongi Mbonambi, who ran out for 74 minutes against France, and a full 80 in the semi-final win over England. Mbonambi must been feeling the effects of double-duty, with the only replacement hooker being 37-year-old Dean Fourie. Regularly a back-row forward, Fourie has been flung into the front row for the first time since March 2018, when he spent a year in his make-shift position for Lyon.

It is rare to see South Africa at a disadvantage in the front row, yet there is a case for this at hooker, who could well be mentally and physically exhausted coming into the Stade de France Final. However, these circumstances certainly don't reflect the All Blacks, who have plentiful depth in the number two jersey ahead of the Rugby World Cup Final.

Ian Foster has a tough choice, as to who his starting and substitute hookers will be, which is a scenario that Springboks fans only dreamt they had. The All Blacks have recently gone with Codie Taylor to start at hooker, with Samisoni Taukei'aho coiled on the touchline, ready to spring into action when called upon. Taukei'aho has been bearing down on Taylor with impressive run-outs, to regain his starting place having led out the All Blacks in the latest Rugby Championship.

The All Blacks also have veteran head Dane Coles waiting in the wings, should Foster need to make a late alteration to the game plan. Coles supported Kevin Mealamu in New Zealand's 2015 Rugby World Cup triumph, with Taylor as his understudy gaining valuable experience.

The very real possibility remains, that injuries to the overworked Mbonambi and Fourie would see the Rugby World Cup Final feature uncontested scrums. The All Blacks certainly have the depth advantage at hooker, however only one man needs to occupy the spot, and a top-tier Mbonambi performance can rattle even the most reinforced of structures.

Two courageous captains who will be leaving it all on the line for their countries this Saturday. New Zealand's Sam Cane and South Africa's Siya Kolisi have both battled back from injuries to reach their very best level for the Rugby World Cup. Kolisi defied the odds in his recovery, and was brandished as a 'medical miracle', following a swift return from knee surgery.

The Sharks man took just 119 days to get back on the field, after suffering a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear in a United Rugby Championship match against Munster. Kolisi has featured in all but one match for the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup, as he earned a break for South Africa's pool stage demolition job on Romania. Sam Cane was sorely missed by the All Blacks in their opening round defeat against France, as New Zealand's captain was side-lined after a late back-injury.

Cane sustained the issue in his own Captain's run, the day before the All Blacks began their World Cup campaign against Les Bleus. The 31-year-old had an impressive recovery time, and returned for his side's penultimate pool stage match against Italy. Cane pressed on with increased minutes against Uruguay, and hit his best stride for the quarter-final clash with Ireland.

Cane's unrelenting defensive work-rate is best presented in his tackle count. Despite missing the first two matches of the Rugby World Cup, the Chiefs man sits at joint-top of the All Blacks tackle charts with 47 completed hits (with Ardie Savea). Cane made a staggering 22 tackles in the quarter-final win over Ireland, with the feat being the all-time second best for an All Black at the Rugby World Cup, behind Richie McCaw's freakish 26 tackles, against Australia in 2003.

Siya Kolisi currently sits at second place, within the Springboks' tackle charts. The back-row machine has made 44 tackles, and only lock Franco Mostert's 57 completed hits is a better showing in a gold and green jersey. The Springboks captain is a certifiable icon of his side, and has passion burns bright when belting out South Africa's national anthem. Kolisi led his side to the 2019 Rugby World Cup title four years ago, and the flanker wants to become only the second man in history to lift back-to-back Web Ellis trophies, behind of course... Richie McCaw.

This battle of the engine rooms could not be narrowed down to just a single face-off, so we expanded our reach for the fourth key battle of the Rugby World Cup Final. Both packs boast a handful of the best locks on the international rugby scene, with some certifiable greats walking amongst the All Blacks and Springboks ranks.

Starting with the All Blacks, Sam Whitelock is on the verge of making history with New Zealand, and becoming the first player to win a hat-trick of Rugby World Cup titles. This unbelievable feat is so impressive we've said it twice in the same article, as Whitelock continues to break records throughout the Rugby World Cup. The soon to be Pau man became the most capped All Black of all time, in New Zealand's 96-17 hammering of Italy.

Whitelock made his 149th test cap in that match, with the Rugby World Cup Final set to be his 153rd run-out in the iconic black jersey. The Crusaders legend is now also the most capped player at the Rugby World Cup with 25 appearances, and the most winningest player too, with 23 wins (and counting...). Helping Whitelock on his journey to World Cup immortality is his long-time Crusaders running buddy Scott Barrett. One third of the brotherly trio alongside Beauden and Jordie, Scott Barrett has stepped into his own with a real ferocity to his game.

Barrett has made 43 tackles throughout the Rugby World Cup, and knows what it takes to score against the Springboks on the biggest stages. Just four years ago, Barrett strode through the back-field to cap-off a wonderful All Blacks move, as New Zealand stunned South Africa with two tries in just four minutes, during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool Stage. New Zealand have also demonstrated an astute awareness on line-out success, with Whitelock, Barrett and Brodie Retallick all capable leaders at the set-piece.

Having already mentioned the defensive work rate of Franco Mostert, we lead South Africa's pack discussion with Eben Etzebeth, who's had a rollercoaster of a World Cup campaign. The titanic lock suffered a shoulder injury against Scotland, with RG Snyman providing ample cover to the Sharks man. Etzebeth roared into life and scored a powerful effort against France, with the blue wall crumbling as he broke the line. However, Etzebeth lost the arm-wrestle with Maro Itoje and George Martin against England, prompting his earlier with-drawl in favour of RG Snyman.

Snyman is steadily putting Etzebeth on notice, and could well elapse the lock for the Final should Erasmus want to throw a 6ft 9" curveball at the All Blacks. Steadily one of South Africa's best players for the entire tournament, Snyman's crowning moment has so far been his late try against England, which ignited the Springboks' eventual comeback victory. Along with his bruising size and physicality, a key skillset that Snyman possesses is his off-loading ability.

The Munster lock draws so many defenders in with his powering carriers, that his supporting players can benefit from a mis-matched defensive line. Snyman has executed six offloads at the Rugby World Cup, the most from any Springboks player. This unorthodox yet proven technique may well come into fruition against New Zealand, as open space is more often hard to find in the Rugby World Cup Final.

Without a doubt, New Zealand wing Will Jordan has been one of the stars of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The Crusaders star has lit up the competition with scintillating line-breaks, and lifts the fans from their seats every time he sees half a gap. Jordan enters the Rugby World Cup Final as the leading try-scorer, with an impressive eight tries to his name.

A semi-final hat-trick saw him run riot on Argentina, with a quarter-final score against Ireland being his most important try so far. The 25-year-old had an entertaining pool stage, as he crossed over for two scores each against Italy and Uruguay. Jordan should be entering the competition one short of double-digits, yet Richie Mo'unga denied him a clear try-scoring opportunity, and decided to go alone in the latter stages against Los Pumas.

Jordan is second in clean breaks with 12, just one shy of the competition's leader Damien Penaud. The Crusaders flyer is certainly one of the All Blacks' danger-men heading into the Stade de France, with the Springboks out to nullify the exhilarating threat he brings along the touch-line. Opposing Jordan in the Rugby World Cup Final is South African sensation Cheslin Kolbe, who needs no introduction on the biggest stages.

Kolbe enters the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final with the goal of replicating his magic, that won the Springboks the Web Ellis trophy four years ago. Kolbe scored a stunning solo try against Eddie Jones' England, and returns to the final with the goal of ruining the day for Ian Fosters men.

There is added weight on Kolbe's shoulders, as the 29-year-old is without his 2019 RWC winning parter Makazole Mapimpi, after the winger's untimely head injury in the pool stages. Kolbe has since partnered alongside Kurt-Lee Arundse, who is one of the few 'Boks talents that was not in Japan four years ago.

Kolbe has made six clean breaks so far in France, and scored tries against the toughest of opponents. The winger crossed over in South Africa's pool stage defeat to Ireland, and added a key score in his side's quarter-final triumph over France. It is a real case of blink and you'll miss it this Saturday, with the touch-lines set to be lit-up by some high octane sprinters.