New Zealand 3-9 South Africa – Rugby World Cup final LIVE: Shannon Frizell is sin-binned inside THREE MINUTES… and it could be upgraded to red after falling on Bongi Mbonambi’s leg

New Zealand are really chucking the ball around nicely and they have a lovely combination going on in midfield.

Chris Foy: ‘Jordie Barrett has had a fine World Cup campaign at inside centre for New Zealand and his audacious pass in that last All Black attack was another highlight.

‘Playing flat to the line, he flummoxed the Springbok defence with a no-look, back-hand release to Richie Mo’unga on the loop. Poetry in motion.’

Meanwhile, Pollard has just kicked another penalty.

NEW ZEEALAND 3-9 SOUTH AFRICA

With 15 men now on the pitch, New Zealand are starting to press on South Africa.

Frizell has certainly come back on to made an impact, havin made several big carries in the last two minutes.

The All Blacks have pressed well on South Africa with Smiith, Mo’unga and Jordie Barrett combining well in midfield with some lovely handling.

New Zealand have a penalty here and Richie Mo’unga now has a chance to get his side on the board with a penalty.

NEW ZEALAND 3-6 SOUTH AFRICA

Our reporter Chris Foy, who is at the Stade de France, has given his assessment of the first 15 minutes of the match…

‘Rain lashing down again here and – this may or may not be apparent from the TV footage – the Stade de France pitch is showing signs of significant wear and tear.

‘South Africa have had some return on their early aerial barrage and New Zealand are just trying to slow everything down until they are back to a full contingent of 15 players.’

Pollard kicks the penalty and Frizell will now come back onto the field.

The Bunker Review official had deemeed that he had not tried to target Mbonambi’s leg earlier in the match.

With 15 men back on the field, can New Zealand bounce back?

NEW ZEALAND 0-6 SOUTH AFRICA

The winger has taken a beating so far and Scott Barrett has just nailed him into the turf!

He manages to get the ball away and South Africa have managed to win a lineout on the 22.

Etzebeth brings the ball down and they maul it forward.

But New Zealand break up the attack well. South Africa are working through the phases here and Pollard breaks the line to bring them up to the five metre line.

They keep going here and they’re through quite a few phases, but New Zealand’s discupline lets them down again.

South Africa win a penalty for not rolling away.

Not the start that either teams will have wanted.

New Zealand have a man in the sin bin, while South Africa are down a hooker.

The Spring Boks have managed to gain some ground here though with Pollard booting forward to gain a scrum in the All Blacks 22.

New Zealand win the scrum and Aaron Smith will clear their lines.

Wayne Barnes has reviewed the footage and Frizell has been sent to the sin bin.

The bunker review team will review this one and it could be worse for Frizell.

It was a horrid replay to watch with Mbonabi’s leg bending in a nasty angle. He’s just left the field.

Meanwhile, referee JP Doyle has told ITV: ‘Id be very twitchy if I was Frizell now as the first directive is to protect the players. What we want to get is if there has beeen a deliberate action. We’ll look at all the angles.’

It’s been a really physical start, Richi Mo’unga just got knocked for six!

Meanwhile, it seems like Bongi Mbonambi is in some pain here.

He’s stayed down for some after he entered a ruck to challenge the ball but was rolled over by New Zeleand blindside Frizell. The No 6 seemed to grab his neck and roll the hooker but his weight seemed to fall on Mbonabi’s leg in an awkward move.

Looks like this could be a yellow card…

It’s New Zealand to get us started!

Richie Mo’unga stands on half-way with the ball and he kicks off deep into the South African 22.

Wilemsen boots the ball out for a line out!

There is some atmospehere inside the Stade de France tonight!

As we kick off, here are some of the weirdest facts from the Rugby World Cup…

Aaron Smith will lead the Haka for the last time in his career as an All Black!

Silence descends on the Stade de France as New Zealand form an arrow head shape in the middle of the field.

Chris Foy has the full preview for tonight’s game below!

Ian Fosters side are smelling redemption after a turbulent few years, a win tonight will seal their fourth Rugby World Cup title!

Not too long ago, New Zealand were struggling under Ian Foster but in in the last 12 months the All Blacks have made a resurgence in time for the Rugby World Cup.

One of those players who has helped them transition and now reach the Rugby World Cup final is Aaron Smith.

Tonight is set to be his last game in an All Blacks jersey and former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick has lauded the No 9 for his excellent international career.

‘An outstanding All Black, probably our greatest No 9. For the great Dan Carter to say I’ve loved playing with him,’ Fitzpatrick said.

‘I just love what he’s about. He’s taken on the ownership of Haka which is a massive responsibility.

‘You see the way he delivers that. And I just love what he’s done. But what he’s done is brought the team together, he’s the glue of this All Black team.’

Rassie Erasmus is one of the most inventive coaches on the planet.

He’s been spotted walking around the field ahead of the match today soaking up the atmosphere which is slowly building here at the Stade de France.

He helped galvanise the side following their disappointing run of form in 2018 to now be on the verge of becoming the first team to retain their Rugby World Cup title since the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015.

After he was banned by World Rugby in 2022, Erasmus has stepped back in to his coaching role with the Spring Boks and, alongside Nienaber, has broken the mould in several ways with his creative coaching styles and directions onto the field.

From playing a 7-1 forwards to backs bench, to advising his side to take a scrum off a mark during their quarter-finals win against France, he’s certainly shown he’s one of the most creative coaches in the world right now.

So, once his time is done with the Spring Boks, where should he go next?

Well Sir Clive Woodward believes England should be eyeing up a move for the head coach as Steve Borthwick’s successor, when the England boss eventually does leave his post.

You can read Woodward’s full column for Mail Sport below…

Jacques Nienaber’s side claimed a dramatic late victory against England in last Saturday’s semi-final.

So far they’ve had an interesting tournament, suffering a defeat by Ireland in the group stages before narrowly coming back to beat England by a point to book their place in the semi finals.

Following on from that physical encounter, the team have made two changes to their starting 15.

Opting for a change in their half-backs, Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard come in to replace Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok at No 9 and fly-half.

Interestingly Reinach and Libbok have been dropped from the squad entirely.

That means Spring Boks have opted to include only one back on their bench, full-back Willie le Roux, with Rassie Erasmus and Nienaber opting for their classic 7-1 split on the bench.

Bongi Mbonambi will start at hooker today after he was cleared by World Rugby to play after he was accused of a racial slur by England flanker Tom Curry during their semi-final clash last weekend.

South Africa XV: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Nyakane, Kleyn, Snyman, Smith, Wiese, Le Roux.

Ian Fosters side look pumped up and ready for tonight’s encounter,

This will be their fourth appearance in a Rugby World Cup final, having only lost once to the Spring Boks in 1995.

Can they write a different story tonight?

Ian Foster’s side are out to undo the pain of a turbulent year, having suffered a big 7-35 defeat to the Spring Boks prior to the world cup.

In the last two years, there were doubts over the head coach’s position as the All Blacks boss, but he has stayed on guiding his side to the showpiece of the Rugby World Cup in what will be his final match in charge of New Zealand.

Tonight, Foster has made one change from the team that defeated Argentina in the semi-finals.

Brodie Retallick comes in to the starting lineup to replace veteran second row Sam Whitelock, who will drop to the bench.

Brothers Jordie, Beauden and Scott Barrett will all retain their places, as the trio start in the World Cup. Richie Mo’unga will control the play from No 10, while Sam Cane captains the side.

New Zealand XV: B Barrett; Jordan, Ioane, J Barrett, Telea; Mo’unga, Smith; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, Retallick, S Barrett, Frizell, Cane (capt), Savea.

Replacements: Taukei’aho, Williams, Laulala, Whitelock, Papalii, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown.

Welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa.

What a game we have in store tonight! It’s two goliaths of world rugby going head-to-head in a ferocious clash that will see either one of these sides claim their fourth Rugby World Cup title.

Stay with us here at Mail Sport as we’ll have all the live reaction, coverage and updates as we build up to the showpiece in Paris.

But first, let’s check in on the latest team news!