In a gripping showdown at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, South Africa emerged victorious against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup Final, with former All Blacks superstar Sonny Bill Williams catching up with former world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit for an exclusive interview.
The Springboks secured their fourth World Cup title after a heart-pounding clash, and flyhalf Handre Pollard proved to be the hero, scoring all the points for the South African side, Aljazeera reported.
The dramatic 12-11 victory marked a memorable repeat of South Africa’s 1995 success over New Zealand, and it denied the All Blacks their chance to clinch a fourth title in what was their record fifth final appearance.
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Captain Siya Kolisi, in a triumphant moment, proudly raised the coveted Webb Ellis Cup aloft while celebrating his team’s epic win.
“People who are not from South Africa don’t understand what it means for our country. It is not just about the game. Our country goes through such a lot,” Kolisi said.
“I want to tell the people of South Africa, ‘Thank you so much’. This team just shows what you can do.”
As the jubilant South African players embarked on their laps of honor and prop Trevor Nyakane showcased his dance moves, Kolisi briefly broke away from the celebrations. He ascended the stadium stairs to greet a special friend high up in the stands — none other than tennis legend Roger Federer, whose South African heritage runs deep. Federer clenched his fist in celebration and leaned over to join Kolisi in commemorating this historic victory.
