1995 world rugby cup

Springboks players face the Haka. The match, won by the Boks at Ellis Park, may well be the most famous ever played and was set against a backdrop of drama, intrigue and politics.

South Africa won the match by three points in their first Rugby World Cup Final, which was also the first to require extra time. Unusually, the points were scored by only one player from each team, with Andrew Mehrtens of New Zealand scoring all 12 of the All Blacks points, three penalties and one drop goal and Joel Stransky tallying all 15 points three penalties and two drop goals for the Springboks, including a drop goal in extra time, which sealed the victory and their first ever Rugby World Cup title. The final was contested by the hosts, South Africa, and New Zealand. Both teams finished at the top of their pools, both undefeated in the pool stages. South Africa defeated Western Samoa in the quarter finals, and then France in the semi-finals to reach the final; the All Blacks defeated Scotland in the quarter-finals, and England in the semi-finals, a game in which Jonah Lomu famously scored four tries.

1995 world rugby cup

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. South Africans lived in an isolated world rife with paranoia and government censorship. By the late s, the country was struggling. Internal strife, economic sanctions, and a decades-long war took their toll on South Africa. Black people were fighting to end the regime. It was a time when the end was in sight, but the end presented the real danger of a bloody civil war. By the end of the s, it was clear to the ruling National Party NP that their time was up. Apartheid would end, and the future looked bloody as many white people feared that black people would take revenge for decades of violent oppression. He convinced the African National Congress ANC not to seek revenge and promised white people peace if they were to relinquish their hold on the country. In , Prime Minister PW Botha, realizing his hardline stance on preserving apartheid was losing traction, resigned and made way for FW De Klerk , who was much more amenable to a change in the status quo.

New Zealand Archived from the original on 4 February

It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country. The World Cup was the first major sporting event to take place in South Africa following the end of apartheid. The World Cup was also the last major event of rugby union 's amateur era; two months after the tournament, the IRFB opened the sport to professionalism. The eight quarter-finalists from the Rugby World Cup all received automatic entry, as did South Africa, as hosts. The remaining seven of the 16 positions available in the tournament were filled by regional qualifiers. The qualifying tournaments were broken up into regional associations: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The tournament was the first Rugby World Cup to be hosted by just one country, and thus, all the venues are within the one country.

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.

1995 world rugby cup

Posted: Dec 22, Updated: 5 months ago. In a sold-out capacity of 63, rugby fans, the epic encounter could not have had a bigger aura for the first Rugby World Cup to be played on African soil. There was plenty at stake for the climax of what had been the most successful World Cup to date, and the closing of the Rugby World Cup could not have ended between these two rich rugby nations. The impact hurt fellow Springboks, as being excluded from the grandest stage in the sport made the rugby rich nation unable to compare against the best rugby union sides globally. After the abollishment of the apartheid government, in South Africa was readmitted to international rugby and shortly after, were announced to be the host nation of the Rugby World Cup. In , South Africa had its very first democratic election which saw a drastic change; a new government was elected and Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black president of the brand-new rainbow nation. Nelson Mandela, known for his influential humanitarian beliefs was a huge rugby fan. Even when The Springboks seemed unequipped to challenge the top tier rugby nations, Mandela believed The Springboks could do the unthinkable and win the Rugby World Cup. Before the start of the biggest event due to take place in South Africa, President Mandela invited Springbok Captain, Francois Pienaar to his presidential offices for tea. Coach, Laurie Mains and Captain, Sean Fitzpatrick led a formidable force, with a squad full of depth; while the most feared rugby player at the time became a household name globally.

Misterauto

Now, 28 years later, New Zealand and South Africa are locked together again as their rivalry resumes. Category Johannesburg. Penalties went back and forth throughout the whole game until full time when the scores were tied at The moment is thought by some to be one of the most famous finals of any sport. Australia Try: T. While Mandela and the ANC listened to these critics, they continued to focus on reassuring the white minority that it wanted to build a strong working relationship. In , a Springbok team toured the British Isles. Every tackle on a black jersey was being greeted with a massive roar of approval, every kick down field was warmly applauded. Witwatersrand Magaliesberg partially Vredefort impact structure partially. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States. The semi-finals were thrilling affairs.

It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country. The World Cup was the first major sporting event to take place in South Africa following the end of apartheid.

Time seemed to slow and I got goosebumps. South Africa were given the rights to host the tournament in , after a meeting between the IRB and both the government led by F. South Africa Australia Romania Canada. The All Blacks retain their majestic aura. The points system that was used in the pool stage was unchanged from :. ISBN All of the history, all of the heartache, all of the controversy was combining together to push this past the limits of a mere rugby game. Try: Humphreys Taylor Con: N. An unexpected downpour had turned the field into a swamp, and the referee erred on the side of canceling the match. Joost van der Westhuizen. Penguin Press. The eight quarter-finalists from the Rugby World Cup all received automatic entry, as did South Africa, as hosts. The all-out brawl immediately saw three players being sent off.