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Rugby is a sport played XV against XV, and in the end, it’s New Zealand or South Africa who win. You don’t have to be Gary Lineker to make this prophecy, given the extent to which these two nations control the rugby world. The World Cup held in France only confirmed this supremacy. The two southern hemisphere nations met in the final, with South Africa claiming their fourth victory. The two nations have now won 7 of the 10 competitions held since 1987.
Gone were Northern Ireland, the world’s No. 1 nation at the start of the tournament. Gone is France, with its 80% success rate under the Galthié era and its status as host nation. The two favorites, the Shamrock XV and Les Bleus, didn’t make it past the quarterfinals, being eliminated by the two future finalists. However, France did beat New Zealand in their opening match, and Ireland held South Africa to a draw in their group game. These two defeats have given the Blacks and Boks a wake-up call for the rest of the tournament. The Irish and the French must be biting their fingers, both teams having done their utmost to finish top of their group and avoid facing each other in the quarter-finals, whereas the opposite scenario would have opened the door to the final to one of the two nations.
So, no first World Cup victory for France and Ireland, but plenty of firsts to make this a historic tournament.
First appearance for Chile, who became the third South American nation to qualify for a World Cup final.
First victory for Portugal, the rising European nation. The Portuguese Lobos (Wolves) pulled off a huge feat against the Flying Fijians, scoring a late try (24-23) in their final group match. A match that will go down in the annals of the competition. Over a thousand fans gave the Portuguese team an exceptional welcome home. A red tide invaded the lobby of Lisbon’s airport to celebrate their new heroes.
The Wallabies did not receive the same welcome, having suffered their first elimination in the group stages with two defeats to Wales and Fiji. A first at this stage for Australia, twice world champions, twice finalists, and twice semi-finalists.
New Zealand experienced their first defeat in the first round. After 36 years of invincibility and 31 consecutive victories in the World Cup group phase, the All Blacks fell to France 27-13 in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup. A historic occasion.
It was the first time that four teams from the northern hemisphere finished first in their group, but this didn’t stop three teams from the southern hemisphere from reaching the semi-finals and having a 100% southern hemisphere final. The demonstration was short-lived.
Six tries scored in the first half of a knockout match is also a World Cup first, and it happened in the quarter-final between France and South Africa. A breathless match that ultimately saw the Bocks win by a single point. A final point for Les Bleus.
It’s anecdotal, but it’s the first time England has won third place, after one victory (2015), three runners-up spots (1991, 2017, 2019), and one fourth-place finish (1995).
The final had its share of firsts: First red card in a World Cup final. Sam Cane’s dismissal for a dangerous tackle heavily penalized New Zealand. The first try conceded by the Springboks in a final. Sam Whitelock, the first player to play in three finals. He will not be the World Champion for the third time (he was crowned in 2011 and 2015).
Last but not least, THE big first is obviously South Africa’s fourth victory, which is on par with Brazil’s five victories in the soccer World Cup, the USA’s six victories in basketball, France’s in handball, and the USSR’s in volleyball.
