New Zealand Become First Nation to Feature in 5 Rugby World Cup Finals After Victory Over Argentina

New Zealand Become First Nation to Feature in 5 Rugby World Cup Finals After Victory Over Argentina

Byron Pillay
updated at October 20, 2023 at 9:19 PM
  • New Zealand defeated Argentina in the first semi-final to book their place in their fifth final
  • The All Blacks will be looking to make history in France and win their fourth Rugby World Cup
  • England and South Africa will compete in the second semi-final for a place against the All Blacks

New Zealand have made history at the Rugby World Cup.

The All Blacks have booked their place in the 2023 final and will now face either England or South Africa in the final.

The All Blacks performing the Haka.
New Zealand have qualified for their fifth final of the Rugby World Cup. Image: World Rugby.
Source: Getty Images

The three-time champions booked their place in the final after they comprehensively beat Argentina in the semi-final.

All Blacks make history

As a result of their win, New Zealand became the first side to appear in five different finals.

They beat France in the inaugural competition in 1987 before losing to South Africa in 1995. They then won the 2011 and 2015 tournaments, becoming the first and only side to defend the title.

New Zealand will now look to become the first side to win four World Cup trophies. South Africa are the only other team who could achieve the feat, having won three titles themselves, the Rugby World Cup site confirmed.

New Zealand’s road to the final

The tournament didn’t get off to the best start for New Zealand as they were beaten by France in the first game.

The host nation bagged a 27-13 win to stun the former champions, but it did spur something inside them.

They beat Namibia 71-3, Italy 96-17, and Uruguay 73-0 in their remaining pool games.

They then dispatched Ireland in the quarter-finals, beating the former world number-one side 28-24, before beating Argentina 44-6 to book their place in the final.

They will now either face one-time winner England, or three-time winners, South Africa.

Springboks and All Blacks climb rankings

South Africa are back on top of the world rugby rankings.

The reigning world champions have returned to the top of the world rankings after their run in the current Rugby World Cup, Sports Brief reported.

The Springboks have qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament and will take on England in the final four, a repeat of the 2019 final.

Authors
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Byron Pillay
Byron Pillay is a sports writer and Head of the Department at Sports Brief (joined in 2022) with over 10 years of experience in community journalism and a degree in journalism from Caxton's Cadet School.
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