The 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) final between the Springboks and the All Blacks is a must-watch event, and here’s how you can watch it live in South Africa.
UPDATE: The Springboks have etched their name in rugby history, becoming the first team to win four Rugby World Cup titles.
2023 RWC final: How to watch Springboks vs All Blacks live in South Africa
The pinnacle of rugby, the World Cup final will conclude in epic fashion at Stade de France., Paris, on Saturday, 28 October 2023.
The Springboks, fresh from their controversial victory over England, will face off against the All Blacks, with both teams aiming for a record fourth Web Ellis Cup. The kick-off is scheduled for 21:00 CAT.
South African fans have multiple options to catch this high-stakes match live.
SABC SPORT
Thanks to an agreement between the SABC and MultiChoice, the match will be available for free live streaming on SABC Sport. Additionally, viewers can watch the action unfold live on SABC 3 (channel 193) at no extra cost.
SUPERSPORT
For those who prefer other streaming options, SuperSport on DStv Stream (previously DStv Now) is another platform where the match will be available.
Coverage on SuperSport begins at 19:00, and various packages are offered for both DStv and streaming options.
Match preview: Here’s what the statistics say about the final
Statistics indicate a compelling battle ahead. The All Blacks excel in key metrics, including red-zone efficiency and line breaks.
They come off a 44-6 semi-final win against Argentina. On the other hand, the Springboks lead in dominant tackles and have shown a formidable scrum, particularly in the knockout stages against heavyweight teams like France and England.
Eben Etzebeth and Damian de Allende have been standout performers for the Springboks in terms of tackles, while New Zealand’s Will Jordan has equalled a Rugby World Cup try-scoring record.
Both teams have shown vulnerabilities, having each lost a pool-stage match, but have rebounded strongly to reach the final.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber announced two major changes to the starting lineup for this crucial match.
He has recalled the 2019 final halfback pairing of Handré Pollard and Faf de Klerk, making them the most experienced nine-and-ten duo in Springbok history.
They will start together for the 25th time, surpassing the record set by Joost van der Westhuizen and Henry Honiball.
“This is an experienced team with several players who played in the last Rugby World Cup final and who know exactly what to expect at Stade de France on Saturday and what it will take to retain the title,” said Nienaber.
The Springboks’ starting XV for the final features an array of experienced players.
The team has 10 players who started in the RWC final four years ago and holds the record for the most experienced team in Springbok history with 987 combined caps.
This breaks their previous record of 895 caps set against England just a week ago.
Among the forwards, only Franco Mostert and Steven Kitshoff did not start the 2019 final.
Both played off the bench in that game. Mostert will pair with Eben Etzebeth, while Kitshoff joins the starting front row that includes Bongi Mbonambi and Frans Malherbe.
