To end a sensational Saturday that kicked the 2019 Rugby World Cup right into life, the game that needs no introduction lived up to the hype. Three-time Champions New Zealand saw off two-time Champions South Africa 23-13 to stretch their winning run at World Cups to 15 matches across 12 years. South Africa have much to commend them, but make no mistake: New Zealand remain the team to beat.

Across Tokyo in the afternoon, France and Argentina had played like two teams who knew they had to win to get through to the quarter-finals. New Zealand and South Africa, meanwhile, played with the freedom of two teams who know they are the best in the world, and are going to breeze into the knockouts in one order or another. Do not bet against them meeting at this stadium in exactly six weeks’ time for the final – indeed someone will have to produce something special to prevent it.

There was scintillating sprinting out wide from the fizzing Sevu Reece and Cheslin Kolbe in a breathless game that swung this way and that. Ardie Savea was immense, and everywhere. The physicality was off the scale, and the ball never seemed to go dead. The aerial contest, with Yokohama Stadium blustery but dry, was fierce and tricky. The crowd, many of whom had swapped form the Brave Blossoms’ red and white on Friday to the All Blacks’, well, all black on Saturday were loud, and nervy. It was a terrific match.

For close to 20 minutes, New Zealand were under the pump. Pushed back at scrum time, caged in by the Boks’ blitz defence, they struggled for ball. But all South Africa had to show for that pressure was three points, from Handre Pollard’s boot. It was a decent nudge, from 52m in the second minute.

The trouble was, Pollard missed a far simpler chance to double the lead, and South Africa’s standards slipped. Faf de Klerk fired out a loose pass from the base, and Richie Mo’unga almost scored after hacking through. Mo’unga converted a penalty in front of the sticks, and the All Blacks were level.

That sparked them into life. Sevu Reece collected a cheeky defensive crosskick – that would be repeated before the half was over – and set off down the right wing at pace. He received support from Aaron Smith, then Ardie Savea, before New Zealand ripped left, with Beauden Barrett surging through a gap and feeding to George Bridge, who scored. Started by the right wing, finished by the left wing, all at high pace: it was a great try.

Two minutes later they surged forward again. Pollard spilled a high ball in the middle of the park, and New Zealand flung it left instantly. Dane Coles produced a basketball offload (not normal for most hookers, but Coles is not most hookers) to Anton Lienert-Brown, who wriggled in from the touchline to put Scott Barrett in. New Zealand have all-court players everywhere.

By half-time, it could have got even worse for South Africa. Mo’unga missed a shot from the far left, and the score remained 17-3.

The Springboks were not done, though. Kolbe pulled off an exceptional high take under extreme pressure in his own half and simply set off down the right wing. Mo’unga, somehow, stayed with him, and pulled off the perfect try-saving tackle. New Zealand scrambled the ball back, and tried to run from deep. They made it as far as their own 22 by the time South Africa won the ball back. They piled through the phases, then Pieter-Steph du Toit spotted a gap and burrowed through to score.

As Camille Lopez had to win the match for France earlier, Pollard then turned to the drop-goal – seemingly at late notice – to steady a stirring second half, and bring South Africa within four points.

New Zealand found two penalties – one each for Mo’unga and Beauden Barrett, who finished up back at No10 and picked up the man of the match award – to take their lead back to 10, but still bgoth teams ran hard from deep. Another mazy Kolbe took South Africa deep, but again New Zealand survived, and in the final five minutes it was them playing all the rugby.

When a final South African spill confirmed the result, New Zealand did a lap of the ground, saluting their many new fans. As so often, they had found a way to win.