Springbok Stats - RWC 2023

According to Planet Rugby, here are some interesting stats and facts from the Springboks 2023 RWC campaign.

I guess these are just more reasons as to why we didn't deserve to win it ...lol..... bloody hilarious

974 – The Springboks took to the lead in the tackle category very nearly reaching the 1,000 mark. Commitment and resilience on defence are core attributes of this world-class side, proving the age-old tale ‘that defence wins trophies

28 – Pieter-Steph du Toit, or the ‘Malmesbury missile’ as his coach described him, broke a record for most tackles in a World Cup knockout match with an impressive 28. Every Springbok starting forward (except the injured Bongi Mbonambi) reached double digits for their tackle counts in the final. The team total was 209 – a record for any team in a final

49 – The total number of tackles the tireless unsung hero Franco Mostert made during the knockout stages – a period in which he did not miss any

10 – Ultimate super sub-Kwagga Smith topped the turnover charts for the competition despite starting just one match throughout the tournament. He turned over or disrupted 41% of defensive rucks hit throughout the 2023 edition

8.5 – The Springboks were quite well disciplined, and despite not being the best in this regard during the global showpiece, they managed to only concede 8.5 penalties per game

13/13 – Handre ‘Iceman’ Pollard was brought in as Malcolm Marx’s replacement mainly for his pinpoint boot from the kicking tee, and he certainly produced. The fly-half kicked at 100% from his 13 attempts, which included two late winners against France and England, while he kicked all the points in the final. Pollard is now the highest points scorer in Rugby World Cup finals history

1 – Springboks fans will be quick to mention how much their hearts have been tested during the 2023 tournament, with all three knockout matches won by a single point. This is the first time the winning team has claimed the title with such narrow victories

12 – Siya Kolisi, who is now one of two captains in history to life the World Cup twice, surpassed John Smit as the Springboks’ most-capped skipper at the global tournament

987 – The number of caps in the South African matchday 23 for the final. Interestingly, this is the most experienced matchday 23 the Springboks have ever fielded

14 – More than half of the 23 selected for the 2023 final were part of the matchday squad that claimed the title four years ago in Japan

100% – South Africa boasts the best record on the biggest stage, having never lost a final in their four appearances in rugby’s biggest game

5 – En route to their historic title, the South Africans faced all of the other five teams in the top six of the world rankings, only losing to Ireland

For the All Blacks, more possession and territory, more run metres and clean breaks, more defenders beaten. They also scored the only try of the game. However, the defensive numbers show where the game was won and lost

The Springboks made a massive 209 tackles on the night – the most they’ve had to make this year – with 10 of their players getting into double figures.

That was combined with a massive shift at the breakdown, with the turnover count finishing seven to two in South Africa’s favour. So, in this case, the old adage about defence rings very true

Jordie Barrett and Richie Mo’unga both had kicks at goal, which could have won the game for the All Blacks. New Zealand lost lineout ball twice in attacking territory in the first half. They finished the game with 19 turnovers conceded, which is the most they have conceded in any match in 2023. Against Ireland, it was only three!

Whatever people think of the officiating team, ultimately, there were chances simply not taken out there

Putting that aside though, the first-half red card to Sam Cane didn’t ruin the game. Like England against Argentina in the pool stage, the red-carded side were able to manage the card well and still make a great contest of the game.

So, despite the card being dished out on the biggest stage, it by no means ruined the final

DA ou Doos will tell you those stats mean nothing. The Boks are the worst side ever with the worst defence and the worst coach. They have a glass jaw and a soft underbelly. 

If the Boks had a better coach they would have won more easily.

Blah blah, blah. 

You see DA, the Boks also don't play much twinkle toe, ballerina rugby so must be condemed. These dumbassrs ignore the fact that these Boks has a record breaking win against the wee abs and put over 50 points on the board against Wales.

They had a try each against Ireland. The put on big scores against the minnows on their pool. They comfortably beat Scotland.

They OUT SCORED FRANCE 4 TRIES TO 3 in the Quarters. 

In the semis and final, with the rain coming down, they reverted to more cautious rugby.

That move sunk them in the "minds if the twinkle toe brigade.

These oaks, lacking rugby acumen, think that the more passes you make the better side you are. Their understanding of tbe game is superficial. They still after all these years can't understand why the Boks are so good at World cups.

Poor Mozzz would prefer is playing twinkle toe rugby regardless of whether it's the winning  formulae or not. The oak simply is not a competitor. 

Doos and Mozzz simply have no clue and refuse to learn. Indeed they double down on stupid. All they do is find anything they can to trash Rassie and the Boks and ignore the positives. 

The results of their bigoted approach are now clear to one and all. 

"Personally I'd like to see more of a running game, similar to Swys' Lions but that's my opinion."

I think if you asked most honest Springbok supporters, they would most probably tell you the exact same thing that you have just said here Plum.... myself included.

However, I would much rather take the 4 x RWC trophies that we already have now, with the way that we always play, wh ich is to our own inherent strengths .... than playing according to how the public or other fans might want us to play, and possibly have zero RWC trophies to show for it.

I have always said that we should play to our strengths ..... and we should never ever have to apologize for doing just that .....

The Boks have been doing this for years and years and years .....and all I ever hear is the constant drone of bitching about how we play this great game .....so it seems that we are clearly very predictable in how we play .....so.....if you want to beat the Springboks, come up with your own strengths to circumvent our own predictable ones.... simple

Terrific defence, low error rate, pinpoint goalkicker, impact bench. While we can fault many things, and I certainly do long for more of the beautiful game from the Boks (and I think that may actually make them a more formidable side), it's hard to deny that they've got the key elements to winning knockout rugby sorted - probably more so than any other team in the world. 

The importance of goal kicking in these games is perhaps understated - Boks lost to Ireland due to not taking goal kicks, or missing them when they did. NZ made the same mistake in the final against us, although their decision to go for touch with kickable penalties may have been strongly influenced by the fact that they knew they were a man down and needed to get as many points on the board as possible.

It's still unfortunate that we will never know what would have happened in a 15/15 final, but that's history now .

(and I think that may actually make them a more formidable side)

Yep, I agree with you here P akie

A rare moment of lucidity from ou Pakster. 

However the idea the Bok attacking prowess has not improved has to be soundly rejected. 

This warped view is based mainly on the Ireland game were two great defences met.

Then it is based on two tests played in the rain regarding the semi  final and the final.

There is in fact little reason to think the Bok attack isn't much improved.

Then there is the future.  Players like Great Williams (the fastest scrummie in world rugby), Libok a very good attacking flyhalf, Kolbe, Mpimpi, Moody, Am, Arendse,  Willemse. The talent back in South Africa. 

Rugby is catching on in South Africa. Expect a further impetus especially from the black and colored elements. I hope to black players at 100 kg coming on line as fast as the wind. 

We only need to find a great attacking 12. But not every back needs to be an attack monster.

Then we have the fact that we have big athletic men and an abundance of loose forwards. 

The Bok attack will grow more formidable as the years pass. My only fear is that another P DE Villiers will be appointed coach and wreck everything. 

Take a look at this. 

Bok mania

I think the Boks are going to naturally evolve more towards "complete" rugby. Moodie and Willemse are superstars...so is Williams. Before long all three are going to have to be starters because each is far better than the next best option...

Those aren't players that you get the most out of by holding the ball up front all day.

We naturally have the best forwards in the world and we're now in a position where rugby has grown so much in colored and black communities that we are finding superstars from nowhere in the backs.

For me, winning fights with jabs(playing defensive rugby) leaves a lot more up to the judges(closer games) than using jabs and power punches(backline) together. And, if we're finding so many good power punchers(backline players), we'd be foolish not to use them.

I feel like dominating up front and giving the backs a lot more opportunity with the ball is going to deliver the most dividends and is how we can really stretch out a lead ahead of at least European teams.

But we need the right coach for that.

I agree Plum 

What I am really battling to understand though, is this ...

If you were boring and predictable in sports like Snooker, Football, Wrestling ... Boxing ...or MMA and you kept on winning world title after world title .... why would I not just implement a better and more revised and ef fective way.... but same boring and predictable plan, to beat you at your own game....

It's so easy to say that the Springboks are boring and predictable, but that's only said because they cannot find ways to counter those boring and predictable strengths of South African rugby...  

"I don't think the Boks necessarily play boring rugby"

I don't either, but this is the sentiment of many commentators and ex-opponents and players...

...mind games to get us to abandon our strengths...

Awfully strange how those who slam Rassie for playing non attacking rugby are the same people who supported Jake. Am I missing something here? 

Correct me if I'm wrong but their respective world cup sides had similar patterns of play.

"Swys' Lions showed what our actual strengths are.

Fast forwards that don't give anything away at a scrum time with backs that mercilessly feed off of forward dominance"

I have to agree ..... this is 100%

The stats must also be viewed keeping in mind the fact that we played all the other teams in the top 6...no other team did.

...a strategic loss to Ire, to prevent meeting the Frogs in the final.