New Zealand vs South Africa – Rugby World Cup final LIVE: Bongi Mbonambi starts for Jacques Nienaber’s side looking for second consecutive world title

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!