1995 world rugby cup

South Africa won the match by three points in their first Rugby World Cup Final, which was also the first to require extra time.

Winning the Rugby World Cup was a long shot, but it was something Nelson Mandela knew South Africa had to do - for the sake of the entire nation. Handing him the trophy was the South African president, Nelson Mandela, who had worked tirelessly so that this moment could be realized. This was a triumph of peaceful unity against apartheid and a triumph of an entire nation succeeding in avoiding the very real threat of civil war, which loomed like the Sword of Damocles over the South African population in the early 90s. For many South Africans, what the Springboks and Nelson Mandela had achieved was almost unthinkable and nigh impossible. The story of how it came to pass is a fascinating example of how humanity can overcome the most dangerous and difficult of obstacles. For decades, South Africa had been shunned by the international community for its mandated racist policies.

1995 world rugby cup

The match stands as a hugely symbolic moment in South African history. Apartheid's gross human rights violations had long made South Africa an international pariah. In , a UN resolution declared apartheid a "crime against humanity. President Mandela saw rugby as a way to help lessen divisions between Black and white South Africans and foster a shared national pride. The sport had been a unifying force before, among the nation's competing colonial forces. A Springbok tour of the British Isles proudly featured players from both sides in the bitter Boer War between English and Afrikaners, including one player who had been imprisoned in a British concentration camp. To heal the wounds this time, Mandela—who had himself been jailed for 27 years for challenging the white minority-led apartheid system—had to first acknowledge and address the widespread pain and division apartheid had wrought. While racial segregation had been long practiced in South Africa, the official system of apartheid emerged in , after the political ascendance of the Afrikaner National Party. Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch, German and French settlers who saw themselves as a chosen people, worked to shape a government that favored the white minority. Under apartheid, the Black majority population was moved to segregated townships in conditions of brutal poverty, excluded from any role in national politics and denied jobs beyond those involving unskilled labor. In , the Reservation of Separate Amenities Act passed, officially segregating all public areas in South Africa—including the rugby pitch. The Afrikaner National Party had deep ties to the rugby team, which had fielded an all-white roster for its first 90 years. The Springbok had come to symbolize more than rugby excellence to the hard-line Afrikaner—it had come to symbolize racial superiority. Black South Africans wanted to destroy any symbols of the apartheid regime. Understanding this resistance to change, Mandela sought a conciliatory strategy that would allow Afrikaners to keep their treasured emblem as a means to an end: bringing the nation together.

Download as PDF Printable version. The All Blacks closed him down but Stransky went for the drop goal.

On Saturday in Paris they meet again. Fifteen men were dressed all in black and 15 men wore green, gold and white. They obviously had no idea then that 28 years would have to pass before these two giants could face each other again when it matters most — in a World Cup final. This Saturday in Paris, the All Black and Springbok squads will emerge from the tunnel at the Stade de France with the knowledge that the two countries they represent have each won the World Cup three times. By the time the next tournament begins, in , the World Cup will have been in the possession of either New Zealand or South Africa for 24 successive years. The final, however, went beyond sport.

There was no overhead fly over by a jumbo jet but emotions were running high at Ellis Park today — and the skies were blue — just as they were 20 years ago to this day when South Africa beat New Zealand to win the Rugby World Cup at the first time of asking. But being here today and linking the people around you to the moment … the memories have all come flooding back. I can remember a friendly-faced elderly gentleman giving energy to a group of people. He said to us it would mean so much too so many people if we could pull it off; it was wonderful. I knew I had to do anything I could to stop him scoring whilst I was on the pitch. Mandela was a truly remarkable man and those historic days of Rugby World Cup I saw his incredible impact on his nation and his people.

1995 world rugby cup

It was the first World Cup for South Africa, as the nation had been kept out of the competition during apartheid, so the victory was a meaningful one—but, as anyone who has seen the film Invictus knows, the game was even more meaningful for what happened off the field. In South Africa, rugby had been seen as a sport for white Afrikaaners, but President Nelson Mandela saw that the tournament could be a chance for a broader social reconciliation. Pienaar reflected on his relationship with Mandela, the link between sports and politics, and the moment he realized that June 24 game would go down in history:. Not before the competition started. But in six weeks, I saw the country change. At our hotel in Cape Town, the lady who checked us in was wearing a Springbok jumper. The gentleman who served us breakfast would say we must eat because we needed to be strong. The morning of the final [in Johannesburg], we went for a run, and four black kids selling newspapers chased after us, shouting the names of the players.

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South African Rugby Union. Andrew Mehrtens opened the scoring with a penalty after six minutes to give New Zealand a 3—0 lead. Try: Wainwright Con: G. The Springbok had come to symbolize more than rugby excellence to the hard-line Afrikaner—it had come to symbolize racial superiority. Mandela, however, saw Afrikaners in a new light. Mehrtens squibbed the kickoff along the deck but the Springboks won a penalty almost immediately; the referee was Englishman Ed Morrison, who had controlled the Bledisloe Cup epic the year before in Sydney that culminated in George Gregan's heroics. The All Blacks had their best chance early. South Africa Australia Romania Canada. Madhya Kailash Shiva Temple. In the All Black New Zealand camp, the mood was optimistic. Qualifying Squads Statistics. The Springboks weren't actually getting themselves near the try line at all but were doing an exceptionally efficient job of keeping the high powered All Black attack blunted as the game headed to the business end. Any moment could turn the game either way now. New Zealand had little problem dismantling England. Referee: Ed Morrison England.

It was once a symbol of division, the separation between white and black South Africa, but in the hands of one amazing man it became a symbol of hope, unity and peace. Rugby; once a white man's game became the unifier of a once broken, but now proud nation; and it was Rugby World Cup that helped pave the way for Nelson Mandela to bring together the 'Rainbow Nation'.

Due to the strength of flanker Ruben Kruger and No. The sport had been a unifying force before, among the nation's competing colonial forces. Healing the racial divide in would not be easy, though, as rugby was traditionally seen in South Africa as a white sport. But the Springboks were also full of confidence, and they beat the Australians, Pen: Mehrtens 3 Drop: Mehrtens. Hastings 3. A smiling Mandela, who was 76, doffed his Springbok cap. The Wallabies were confident, as they had had an undefeated season. Tambo International Airport Rand Airport. Source: [2]. Mandela and Luyt sat together high up in the Ellis Park members' box, watching on with the president now clad in sunglasses and looking the far more relaxed of the two. The French spent the rest of the game camped by the South African try line, threatening to score, until the referee finally blew the whistle, eliciting the biggest sigh of relief South Africans have ever issued. M-Net Series. For many South Africans, what the Springboks and Nelson Mandela had achieved was almost unthinkable and nigh impossible.