Rugby World Cup news: England star makes RFU plea as final referee sent vile abuse

That's it from us tonight, but be sure to check back tomorrow for all the latest updates and coverage of the Rugby World Cup fallout.

Players of just four countries make up the World Rugby team of the year for 2023, as France, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa make up the 15.

An incredible 10 players make the team from the northern hemisphere, despite three southern hemisphere sides reaching the World Cup semi-finals before the tournament was won by the Springboks.

Ireland boss Andy Farrell has been named World Rugby's coach of the year after taking his team to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

He beat out final winner Jacques Nienaber, New Zealand’s Ian Foster and Fiji’s Simon Raiwalui to win the award.

Farrell also guided Ireland to Six Nations victory earlier this year and had won 17 consecutive matches before falling to New Zealand.

New Zealand star Ardie Savea has been crowned World Rugby's player of the year.

After an impressive tournament, the All Blacks' No. 8 has picked up the top individual accolade despite his side's defeat to South Africa on Saturday.

His team-mate Mark Telea was also named breakthrough player of the year.

South Africa star Handre Pollard has discussed his perfect kicking record at the World Cup.

He successfully knocked over 13 out of his 13 attempts, including four in the final against New Zealand.

“When you are actually out on the field it is pretty normal, it’s just rugby, man,” Pollard said.

“Once you are in the cathedral you just get going and trust your process. The trust the guys have in myself and the trust I have in them… if you miss it, it’s not the end of the world for us, we don’t see it that way.

“There’s not a lot going on, it’s pretty simple, to be honest. For me now, it will be remembered as a nice place to kick. Not all stadiums are like that unfortunately. I will have fond memories of this place for sure.”

World Cup final referee Wayne Barnes has been sent death threats and abuse on social media after South Africa's win over New Zealand.

Barnes sent off All Blacks captain Sam Cane in the first half in a decision that their supporters especially felt was harsh.

Barnes' wife Polly has since spoken out on social media about the backlash that the official has received.

“See ya later Rugby World Cup. Won’t miss you, or the death threats,” she wrote. “What a vile atmosphere at the Stade de France. It’s just a game k***heads."

Footage captured South Africa captain Siya Kolisi's immediate reaction after his side defeated New Zealand to win the World Cup.

His team-mates fell to the floor or celebrated with arms aloft but the skipper instead ran directly to the touchline to celebrate with Cheslin Kolbe.

Kolbe had been shown a yellow card and was going through plenty of emotions, before being reassured by his captain at full-time.

England hero Matt Dawson has insisted that the 2023 South Africa side are the greatest Rugby World Cup team in history.

The Springboks pushed France, England and New Zealand aside on their way to success to become four-time champions.

"South Africa are probably the greatest team in the history of the World Cup," Dawson wrote for the BBC.

"I don't think anyone has got anywhere close to that previously, and given the format going forward, I'm not sure it will happen again.

"They have won the World Cup by beating the best nations and it was truly remarkable. The All Blacks may have had better individual players when they won in 2011 and 2015, but I would go with South Africa as a better team."

England star Jamie George has called on the RFU to provide more clarity regarding the hybrid contract situation.

England are set to give 25 players contracts to give Steve Borthwick greater control over his squad ahead of next year's Six Nations, but George wants the players to be involved in such discussions before the details are finalised.

“We just need a bit more clarity around them. It is hard for us because you hear the whispers and you might get excited about it, but at the same time we have to focus on the job at hand,” George said.

“What I do have is a huge confidence in Steve to make sure we get this right if those central contracts or playing contracts do come in.

“It could be a great thing for English rugby, but it has to be done right. Steve will do it in the absolute right way that does not take away from the club game because that’s something that means a lot to me.

“Hopefully there will be plenty of player influence as well because there are a lot of very intelligent guys in this changing room who have a lot of things to say and care a huge amount about the English game and its development.

“You can see that in the way that a lot of the older guys are speaking about the future of this team and hopefully the RFU use us and we will be heavily involved in those conversations.”

New Zealand cabinet minister Willie Jackson slated Rugby World Cup final referee Wayne Barnes for his performance on Saturday evening.

Barnes sent off All Blacks captain Sam Cane in the first half, leading Jackson to rip into the official on his Facebook account.

"I'm getting tired of hearing how the best team won the Rugby World cup, what a load of bloody nonsense," he wrote.

"The best team clearly lost today's game, and the All Blacks were the better side, but we were robbed by a referee who apparently is the Number one ref in the world but clearly is a bogey referee for us and I am not talking about his decision to red card Sam Cane.

"No, I am talking about him giving South Africa 3 points that he admitted was a mistake. When Wayne Barnes said to Ardie Savea sorry mate I made a mistake, he should have then stopped the penalty but he didn’t. It’s crazy how referees can pull back tries when they make mistakes but here we had one who knew he made a mistake awarded a penalty, apologised then proceeded with the mistake!"

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has heaped the praise on Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber after leading the team to a fourth World Cup victory.

Nienaber will be leaving the team to take up the Leinster job but has signed off in the most perfect way possible and was praised by his captain.

"Jacques, honestly, it’s been a huge honour for me and a huge privilege,” Kolisi said. “I appreciate you. We love you as a team, not as a coach, but as a person.

“You’ve taken it to another level. The way you speak to us - it’s not ‘make a big hit, make a tackle’, you talk to me as a person, as a father, a husband, as a son, it goes such a long way so thank you.

“We honour you as a team. I hope you are proud of us. They will be lucky to have you wherever you go."

South Africa are happy to allow Rassie Erasmus to work as interim head coach following their Rugby World Cup triumph, newspaper Rapport claims.

Head coach Jacques Nienaber will depart to Ireland following the tournament in France.

Nienaber has already signed a contract to join Leinster.

The report claims that SA Rugby are in no rush to appoint a successor and are happy for Erasmus to continue in the role.

It comes after Sir Clive Woodward backed Erasmus to take up a director of rugby position within the RFU.

New Zealand star Rieko Ioane insists his colleagues have the utmost respect for outgoing head coach Ian Foster.

The All Blacks were defeated 12-11 in Saturday’s final against South Africa, having gone down to 14 players midway through the first half.

Asked what Foster had said after the game, Ioane replied: "That stays within the locker room.

"But what I'm able to say is that I have the utmost respect and praise for Fozzie.

"He has also faced adversity not only this tournament but leading into this tournament and to lead us and produce some of the footy we were able to produce is a credit to him."

Eddie Jones has told The Australian about his decision to quit as head coach of the Wallabies.

The 62-year-old spent just 10 months in the job.

“I feel disappointment about the fact that what we wanted to do in terms of changing the system hasn’t been able to happen in the short term,” Jones said.

“I have a major feeling of disappointment. But I don’t feel any grievance towards anyone. I’ve really enjoyed coaching the players. The players have been fantastic. They just need a better environment to be training and playing in.”

Eddie Jones has quit as Australia boss after a disastrous World Cup campaign.

Jones was appointed into the role shortly after leaving his job as England head coach.

However, he has now quit after Australia were dumped out of the Rugby World Cup in the pool stage.

Sir Clive Woodward has urged England to appoint Rassie Erasmus as director of rugby.

"He [Erasmus] really is a breath of fresh air," wrote Woodward in his column for the Daily Mail. "It's not beyond the realms of possibility, him joining England. It would certainly get the fans talking in the pubs and that’s what the game needs.

"We’ve seen rugby in England struggle so badly both on and off the pitch, especially in the last 12 months. As England’s director of rugby, Erasmus would have the opportunity to wipe the slate clean. It would not work if he wanted to still be in the coaching box. Borthwick must still be that man.

"It’s not a big call as long as it is the role Erasmus wants to play. For me he really might fit the bill. I would love to see him there."

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has called on his nation to “make a better country” in an inspiring reaction to their Rugby World Cup triumph.

Kolisi lifted the trophy after victory over New Zealand on Saturday.

He roused afterwards: “There’s so much going wrong in our country, we are the last line of defence. There’s so much division in the country, it is possible to work together as South Africans, not just on the rugby field, but in life in general.

“We can’t go away from that, 1995, without that I wouldn’t be here. For people who look like me, I’ve got a job to give whatever I can to the jersey, to show they can get opportunities like this.”

England star Jamie George has backed Steve Borthwick to continue as head coach, insisting the 44-year-old is the ‘perfect man’ for the job.

Borthwick faced scrutiny for some of his team selections during the Rugby World Cup.

He guided England to third place but question marks remain over the progress being made under his management.

George said: "For me Steve is the perfect man. He never sits still, I don’t think he ever sleeps. I have huge confidence in him to make sure we get this right.

“If those contracts do come in I have every confidence he will do it in the absolute right way that does not take away from the club game, because that’s something that means a lot to me."

A dejected Sam Cane admitted he was “hurt” after seeing red in the Rugby World Cup final.

The New Zealand captain was dismissed upon review in the 29th minute.

"There's so much hurt right now," Cane said. "It's actually hard to find the words to explain it. It's hard because you are feeling so much hurt but at the same time you are so proud of the group in how they fought back.

"It sort of caught me off guard, the fact [Kriel] stepped back. But, look, we've been at this tournament for two months now, and anything around the head has ramifications.

"I'm not here to discuss whether it was right or wrong. It can't be changed. It's something unfortunately I am going to have to live with forever.”

The New Zealand press bitterly called out South Africa for their perceived gamesmanship during the Rugby World Cup final.

An NZ Herald headline bemoaned “Well done to South Africa, the best at not playing rugby” and encapsulated the mood among the country’s media.

In the piece, columnist Paul Lewis observes: “Firstly: South Africa won it fair and square.Secondly: South Africa are better at not playing rugby than the All Blacks are at playing rugby.Thirdly: the sport of rugby must lift itself out of this miserable morass of complicated rules which lead to a band of officials becoming the key influence, not the players or the actual play.”

The piece continues: “As South Africa have consistently shown, it is often better to play without the ball rather than to run and pass it. How sad is that? How ridiculous?

“The All Blacks chose to employ their usual attacking, ball-in-hand strategy, even down to 14 men, and still could have won it had that long Jordie Barrett penalty attempt gone over, as it would have on a different day. But the percentages won. Again.

“In fact, this was the only one of the Boks’ four World Cup finals in which a try was scored against them - and they have only once (2019) scored a try in the final themselves. Says a lot, doesn’t it?”

Former New Zealand international Israel Dagg raged at English officials Wayne Barnes and Tom Foley after the All Blacks’ defeat.

Barnes showed red to captain Sam Cane for a high tackle, a decision which split opinion.

But Dagg felt that the red card ruined a ‘showpiece’ event and laid the blame at the feet of Barnes.

“This is our showpiece event, which has been overshadowed by a couple of people that are just taking the glory and the gloss away from the players,” Dagg told Sky Sport.

“I’m honestly just fed up … it is putting apprehension in the mind of our players.

“You can see why people switch off the game, because it’s as boring as hell, because you don’t have the best players out there.

“There were some contentious moments but deal with it after the game. There was no malice in (Cane’s tackle) and Jesse Kriel is fine.”

Hello and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of the Rugby World Cup.

We will have all the latest fallout from South Africa’s victory over New Zealand.