South Africa are deploying a high-risk strategy in the highest-stakes game as New Zealand await in the Rugby World Cup final.
Ox Nche's role in turning the tide in South Africa's semi-final win over England has increased his cult hero status among Springbok fansBack in 2007, the last time the Rugby World Cup was held in France, England came into the final fuelled by an unlikely team anthem.after prop Matt Stevens - runner-up on a Celebrity X Factor the previous year - strummed it out on his guitar at the team hotel.
It was extraordinary when South Africa did similar against Ireland in the pool stage. Then it was seen as a throw-away show of strength, in a game the Springboks could afford to lose. The risk does not come without potential reward though. There is a big upside that has lured South Africa into leaving themselves so vulnerable.
The suspicion is that New Zealand need to get out to a fast start; open up clear water on the scoreboard and leave the 'finishers' - as Eddie Jones liked to term them - with too much on their plates. If they can keep up that hit-rate in the final and then hunker down and withstand the blast from the Bok bench, it may be them, rather than South Africa, that claims a record fourth World Cup.
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