New Zealand will beat South Africa – here’s why I think they will do it – Dylan Hartley
Dylan Hartley: New Zealand will beat South Africa – here’s why I think they will do it
New Zealand can live with South Africa’s structure and all they need is a couple of moments of brilliance to triumph

Rugby is important to New Zealanders, as I am aware. I mean, I am one. My heroes growing up in the Bay of Plenty was the All Blacks, particularly in Rotorua. To be really honest, I always wanted to be an All Black. I don’t recall the first time I picked up a rugby ball since there was always one laying around. Additionally, there are the old pictures of you as a baby in an All Blacks shirt, trying to perform the haka in front of the TV. I was caught on camera at a young age.
On my windowsill, I had a figure of Carlos Spencer, the All Blacks fly-half at the time, and several other idols. There were also a few autographed balls, athletic diplomas, and the occasional medal or trophy. Even though I never brought it up to Carlos when we were Northampton Saints teammates years later, I still have it! My daughters took it out of the attic after sorting through some boxes there the last time we were back in New Zealand.
When you bleed for a foreign nation for ten years, something changes. I came to England when I was sixteen.
My wife is English, my kids are Northampton natives, and I have lived in the UK for a greater amount of time than I have in New Zealand, so my athletic loyalty is firmly rooted there. It allows me to view the World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand with objectivity.
I see two teams who are both filled with pride in their country and are under pressure to do well. With three World Cup victories apiece, the winner of this match will have achieved the pinnacle of rugby teams and nations. And that makes sense since they have established themselves as the two dominant forces in the past.
I drove with my dad and uncle for four hours to attend New Zealand vs. South Africa at Eden Park in Auckland to witness my first-ever Test match.
The legendary fullback I recall the excitement and adrenaline when Christian Cullen scored one of the All Blacks’ tries, and New Zealand triumphed. I wasn’t quite sure what to do when they scored, so I celebrated with my dad by giving him a hug and bouncing up and down.
At the time, New Zealand’s only significant competitors were the Australians and the Springboks. Even now, I am aware that many New Zealanders hold South Africa in the highest regard among all teams.
Even if the All Blacks win the World Cup, head coach Ian Foster will step down from his position after the competition. Even though I don’t know him well, I have a gut feeling about the sort of man he is and what the players think of him because of when the All Blacks were struggling last year and Foster was being badly criticized by the local media. Uninvitedly interrupting a news conference, captain Ardie Savea remarked, “I just want to let you guys know we stand by Fozzie.”
You could believe that the player is simply reading from the script, but I can tell you from experience that it’s not that simple to go up unannounced and voice your opinions when there are so many other variables at work—you don’t just randomly defend a coach. I concluded that Foster must be a fantastic coach with a wonderful rapport with his players since it seemed like he had a lot of respect from them. My admiration for Savea skyrocketed. Nevertheless, Foster will be remembered whether or not this World Cup is delivered.
Foster’s counterpart in South Africa, Rassie Erasmus, is open about the fact that everything he does is intended to advance South Africa. He reminds me of Eddie Jones, in my opinion, in that when you offer substance and a platform for commentary, people begin to view you only as amusing.
But below it all is Rassie’s adorable, astute rugby brain. He does things differently and questions the laws. The Springboks team is shaped by him.

Can South Africa push for another 80 minutes of physical endurance and perhaps a little bit of late-minute luck, after their one-point victory against England last week, to empty the tank once more? It still bothers me that two months ago at Twickenham, they scored 35 points against New Zealand. What psychological effects does that have on each member of both teams?
Considering the prominent figures in New Zealand, scrum-half Aaron Smith plays with a grin on his face and prioritizes the team over himself. He has consistently delivered standout performances over the years. His try against Argentina in last week’s lopsided semifinal showcased his unique skill with his break, dummy, and goosestep.
When I watch England, I just hear Owen Farrell’s voice; when I watch NZ, I hear Smith, who is a continuous communicator, yelling during the entire game. He has performed admirably.
I’m really happy for Captain Sam Cane. As the captain of the most successful team in history, he wears the legendary Richie McCaw’s shirt. However, after the All Blacks lost to Ireland and Argentina at home in 2022, many predicted that the squad would collapse.
Cane must have had difficult times at times, yet his unwavering presence is very stoic.
During the World Cup, he performed admirably against Ireland, slashing through opponents with ease. Although he doesn’t get the same level of attention as McCaw, a victory for New Zealand would be confirmation and honor for a fantastic player.
Next up comes Jordie Barrett, who at fly-half looked quite at ease standing outside Richie Mo’unga. Jordie is the youngest graduate of the Barrett family farm, also known as the New Zealand Rugby high performance facility in Taranaki.
Three brothers who are All Blacks are under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett. What a fantastic tale—they need to be on the list of recipients of the New Year’s honors!
South Africa is on the other side. I recently watched a documentary about Siya Kolisi, and it was a very inspirational discourse about his life, especially his childhood. You can’t help but be in amazement of the varied nature and the tales inside each side, which is why even my wife stopped to watch it.
They do a great job of articulating their “why,” which is to play for their country and give hope to a nation with a troubled past. I genuinely think that their motivation is greater than themselves, which is what makes them a formidable opponent. Two distinct and divergent styles exist. They will want to stay away from an arm wrestle and play an all-court game. New Zealand can do both.
You must be dying to know my prediction, and I’m going with New Zealand to win. Rugby finals are usually very structured games rather than full of running-riot matches. New Zealand can handle South Africa’s structure and win with a few flashes of brilliance.
After the semifinal match, New Zealand got an additional day off, which I’m sure they utilized to watch England strategically destroy South Africa on a couch in the team room. The All Blacks will build on their strengths and absorb a lot from that experience. Imagine if England taught New Zealand a few things to help them win four world titles. That seems good to me.