Facts and stats — New Zealand vs South Africa

A selection of facts and statistics ahead of the Rugby World Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa at Stade de France on Saturday:

• New Zealand have won 59% of their Tests against South Africa (W62 D4 L39), which is their lowest win rate against any nation; the Springboks have won three of the last five games against the All Blacks (L2), as many as they’d won in their previous 22 (D1 L18), including a 28-point win in their most recent clash in August this year (35-7) — New Zealand’s heaviest ever Test defeat.

• New Zealand and South Africa have met five times previously at the Rugby World Cup; the Springboks won their initial two clashes, including the only time they’ve faced each other in the final (1995). However, the All Blacks have won their last three meetings.

• New Zealand and South Africa have each won the Rugby World Cup on a record three occasions, while this will be the fifth final in a row to have been won by either the All Blacks or the Springboks (twice each); the last time a nation other than New Zealand or South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis Cup was in 2003.

• South Africa are the only nation to boast a 100% win rate in Rugby World Cup finals and they will be aiming to become just the second side to win backto-back finals, after New Zealand (2011-15); the All Blacks have won three of their four finals, with their only defeat at this stage coming against the Springboks in 1995.

• South Africa have never conceded a try in a Rugby World Cup final, while they’ve kept their opponents try-less in 47% of their knockout fixtures (9/19), the best such rate of any nation; meanwhile, the All Blacks have scored a try in each of their last 38 matches in the Rugby World Cup, last failing to score in the bronze play-off in 1999 against South Africa.

• New Zealand (4.3) and South Africa (3.3) have averaged more points per 22 entry than any other nation at this year’s World Cup, while they also rank first and second, respectively, for points conceded per opposition entry (New Zealand 1.1, South Africa 1.2).

• New Zealand have averaged the most line breaks (13.5) and best gainline success rate (61%) of any side at this year’s World Cup, while South Africa have committed three or more tacklers on 11.5% of their carries, the best such rate of any nation, just ahead of the All Blacks (11.4%); only Ireland (47.7%) have scored a try from a higher percentage of their line breaks than South Africa (47.1%) or New Zealand (46.9%) this year.

• New Zealand have the best lineout success rate at this year’s World Cup (97%, SA 4th best at 88%), while only three teams have a better scrum success rate than the All Blacks (94%). However, South Africa have won 1.2 penalties per game on the opposition scrum this campaign, more than any other side, with only France (3.0) averaging more scrum penalties per game overall than the Springboks (2.7).

• Will Jordan has scored eight tries at this year’s tournament, more than any other player; it’s the joint most by any player in a Rugby World Cup campaign, alongside two All Blacks (Jonah Lomu in 1999, Julian Savea in 2015) and a Springbok (Bryan Habana in 2007).

• New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock could become the first player to win the Rugby World Cup three times, having also lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2015; he is the most capped All Black in Test history (152) and has made more Rugby World Cup appearances than any other player (25). Meanwhile, Vincent Koch could win his 50th cap for South Africa.