Defending champion South Africa kicked its way to a record fourth Rugby World Cup title by beating New Zealand 12-11 after All Blacks captain Sam Cane was the first player to be red-carded in a final.
Flyhalf Handre Pollard scored all the points for a Springboks side that repeated its 1995 success to deny the All Blacks their own chance to win a fourth title in their record fifth final.
"People who are not from South Africa don't understand what it means for our country. It is not just about the game. Our country goes through such a lot," captain Siya Kolisi said.
As South Africa's players did laps of honor and prop Trevor Nyakane danced, Kolisi broke off and climbed up the stadium stairs to celebrate with tennis great Roger Federer, whose mother is South African.
Cane will fly home with regrets.
"Extremely gutted and disappointed," he said. "First of all, that the guys had to play with 14 men for the last 50-odd minutes, I thought the courage they showed was incredible, the whole team are absolute warriors."
Cane was issued the red for a high tackle on center Jesse Kriel. Three other players were sin-binned - two Springboks and one All Black - in a chaotic match.
"I'd like to say well done to South Africa," he said. "Back-to-back champions, they have been a fantastic team."
Fullback Beauden Barrett scored the only try, setting up a tense last 20 minutes He became the first player to score in two World Cup finals and scored the first try conceded by South Africa in a final. But flyhalf Richie Mo'unga's touchline conversion attempt went wide and ultimately preserved the winning margin.
Winger Cheslin Kolbe couldn't bear to watch the last, excruciating minutes as the Boks clung on to win, just as they did against host France in the quarterfinals, and again against England in the semifinals.
"I guess as a team we like drama," flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, the player of the final, said. "We have had drama for the last few years. It helped us a lot as a team to get through the drama and cope with it and it shows the resilience of the team."
