- New Zealand is a 1.5-point favorite over South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final
- The Springboks are looking to join the All Blacks as the only team to capture back-to-back World Cups
- The championship match takes place from Stade de France, Saint-Denis on Saturday, October 28
The 2023 Rugby World Cup comes down to a dream final between New Zealand and defending champion South Africa. With three titles a piece, both nations are looking to become the first four-time winners in the event’s history.
Who will capture the Webb Ellis Cup? Before we examine the odds for Saturday’s championship game, here’s where you can find the best Rugby World Cup Betting Odds and check out the top Rugby Betting Sites in 2023.
New Zealand vs South Africa
Historic rivalry resumes
The All Blacks and the Springboks will clash in the final for the first time since the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa. New Zealand’s 15-12 loss in that contest was the only time they’ve tasted defeated in four championship games. South Africa also beat NZ in the 1999 bronze-medal match, but they’ve lost their last three World Cup meetings to their long-time rivals.
The Kiwis downed their Southern Hemisphere counterparts 29-9 in the 2003 quarter-finals and 20-18 and in the 2015 semi-finals. They also triumphed in their 2019 World Cup showdown in Japan, but the Springboks had the last laugh, becoming the first nation to lose a pool match and go on to win the championship.
1987 ➡️ 2019
New Zealand and South Africa have each lifted the Webb Ellis Cup three times so far#RWC2023 | #RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/PfEeGxQpqs
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 24, 2023
When they last met
New Zealand holds a 3-2 edge in World Cup play and a 62-39-4 advantage in their 105 previous meetings with the Springboks. However, South Africa crushed the All Blacks 35-7 at Twickenham in their final warm-up match before heading to France. It was their biggest-ever margin of defeat to their rivals.
All Blacks favored
New Zealand is 1.5-point chalk over South Africa at Stade de France on Saturday. Both nations have suffered a loss in the 2023 World Cup. After dropping the tournament opener to France, the Kiwis rebounded to take down Ireland 28-24 in the quarterfinal before crushing Argentina 44-6 in the semis.
Meanwhile, the Springboks placed second in Pool B after losing a 13-8 slugfest to Ireland. They then went on to break the hearts of the hometown France side with a narrow 29-28 win in the knockout stage before securing another one-point victory over England last Saturday to advance to the finals.
Your 2023 finalists.#RWCFinal pic.twitter.com/hfOeMhqb7z
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 21, 2023
Best Bet
South Africa has never lost a final, and is looking to join New Zealand as only the second nation to win back-to-back World Cup titles. In a game of contrasting styles, can the Springboks use defensive pressure and their rapid transition game to put the Kiwis on their heels? Or will the All Blacks avenge their warm-up game loss in Twickenham after cruising to victory in the semifinals?
In what should be an all-time classic, we’ll take South Africa (+114) to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a hard-fought win over New Zealand in Saturday’s final.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
