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\u201cIt is really, truly, a historic day,\u201d smiled Alan Gilpin, CEO of World Rugby. He would go on to use the word \u2018historic\u2019 another three or four times in the following few minutes of his press conference.<\/p>\n
After years of wrangling \u2013 16 years, according to Gilpin, since discussions about how to sort out rugby\u2019s messy global calendar first took place in the salubrious surroundings of Woking, Surrey (don\u2019t worry, the location wasn\u2019t the reason it took more than a decade and a half to reach an agreement, a chuckling Gilpin assured everyone) \u2013 World Rugby had finally come up with a solution that will transform rugby \u201cfor the many, not the few\u201d ushering in a \u201cnew era of opportunity, certainty and growth for the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s fair to say they were pretty pleased with the outcome of the seemingly endless negotiations. Compromises had been made and it wasn\u2019t perfect, stressed Gilpin and World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, but rugby would be \u201cmore relevant and more accessible to more people around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The new competition locks out smaller nations just when rugby should be trying to grow the game globally <\/p>\n
The old story goes that when Kevin Barrett hung up his boots, the man they called \u2018Smiley\u2019 was asked what he was going to do next. \u201cI\u2019m going to go breed some All Blacks,\u201d Smiley replied, returning to the family dairy farm and setting to work.<\/p>\n
By that stage, sons Beauden, Scott and Jordie had already been born, and how they\u2019ve lived up to their father\u2019s assertion. On Saturday night, they will become the first trio of brothers to appear in a Rugby World Cup final, all close to certain starters for the All Blacks ahead of a meeting with South Africa.<\/p>\n
There are many tales of successful sporting siblings, from the Williams sisters to the Kelce brothers; the Waughs or the Charltons. But for three brothers to be so integral to a potential World Cup win is special. Smart international rugby coaches build their side around a spine of players from a single club; Ian Foster has been able to build his All Blacks around a single family.<\/p>\n
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Beauden, Scott and Jordie Barrett are all set to start Saturday\u2019s Rugby World Cup final for the All Blacks against the Springboks <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Welcome as the Independent brings you all the latest news from Paris ahead of the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday. <\/p>\n
New Zealand battle South Africa in a mouthwatering clash at the Stade de France. <\/p>\n
Before that, England look to go again after their agonising defeat to the Springboks, with a chance to claim third in Friday\u2019s play-off against Argentina. <\/p>\n
Follow all the latest updates, analysis and reaction with our reporters Luke Baker and Harry Latham-Coyle in Paris. <\/p>\n