To lift this heavyweight title needs the ultimate knockout

THE two teams with three Rugby World Cup triumphs apiece regard tomorrow’s final as a once-in-a-lifetime occasion

- Nick Purewal

New Zealand and South Africa have won six of the nine World Cups. Whoever triumphs will make history by lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time.

Of course, this is not even the first final between the All Blacks and the Springboks — and yet both consider this Stade de France contest as unique.

The history and supremacy of both teams would argue otherwise. But when Sam Cane, Ian Foster, Siya Kolisi and Jacques Nienaber talk, the entire rugby globe listens.

“I don’t think it will happen again in our lifetime to have two teams like this meet in a World Cup final,” said South Africa captain Kolisi.

The defending champion Springboks against the resurgent All Blacks. The immovable object against the irresistible force.

When South Africa battered New Zealand 35-7 at Twickenham on August 25, no one predicted this final.

The Springboks flexed their World Cup champion status by inflicting the All Blacks’ heaviest defeat in history.

Ireland entered this World Cup as No1 in the world. Some eight weeks later, the final is a battle of the top two in the rankings.