The magic of the ‘95 RWC final

Francios Pienaar receives the Rugby World Cup from Nelson Mandela. FILE PHOTO: Ross Setford/AP

Francios Pienaar receives the Rugby World Cup from Nelson Mandela. FILE PHOTO: Ross Setford/AP

Published Jun 24, 2015

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The Springboks had brought a nation together. Now, only 80 minutes, or a little more as it turned out, stood between them and being crowned world champions.

New Zealand, with the hottest property in the game in Jonah Lomu in the side, were hot favourites. But the Boks never feared they’d be beaten.

It was a bright and clear morning when captain Francois Pienaar led his teammates on a jog through the streets of Sandton. “I was eager to keep the guys focused, but it was impossible to ignore a sense that, on this particular day, this one country would be standing together and standing behind one team of 15 players and reserves. It sounds too sugar-sweet to be true, but wherever we ran, wherever we looked, people smiled and gave us a thumbs up. It was strange. It was a special day to be a South African in South Africa, and it was a wonderful day to be a Springbok,” he says in Rainbow Warrior.

Before the team boarded the bus to Ellis Park, Pienaar gave his final message to his players: “One thing certain about today is that we are all going to make mistakes. The challenge will be to keep our heads, not worry about any mistakes and get on with the game. We know what we must do.

“If we play our guts out this afternoon, we will win this match. There is no doubt about that. I am certain. We must just back each other and play the game of our lives. That’s what this is: the game of our lives. If we all come off the field having given everything we have, then I am convinced we will be world champions.”

The Boks made their way to Ellis Park for what would turn out to be a defining few hours in the lives of the players and many others. Pienaar remembers the hour before kick-off: “I returned to the changing room and was stopped in my tracks. President Mandela was standing beside my place, wearing a No6 Springbok jersey. He beamed and stretched out his hand to greet me. It was an incredible gesture on his part. Suddenly there was a lump in my throat. He wished me luck.

“He then walked around the room, wishing each player luck and, within a few minutes, he was gone. I swallowed hard and refocused.

“Within a moment or so, it seemed as if the entire stadium was shaken by some kind of explosion. A SAA jumbo jet had executed an audacious flypast, passing less than 200 metres above the stadium.

“Just before 10 to three, I led the Springbok team onto the field ... I felt on the brink of tears because I was so consumed with national pride. I felt strong. I felt as if I could take on anyone.”

At last the match ...

After a nervy start by both sides, the All Blacks go 6-3 up. “I am happy with the way we are playing, moving forward and holding possession for long periods. The thoughts by many that the All Blacks would overwhelm us as they overwhelmed England have been swiftly banished,” says Pienaar.

“Mark Andrews takes the ball forward, Joost darts forward, Ruben takes over and bursts for the line. We score! We score! No try. Ed Morrison says no try.

“We did score. Beneath the pile of bodies, we did score. You can often tell what happened by the expression of the defenders – the resigned look on Olo Brown’s face – and you can often tell by the look on the face of the man who claims the try – Ruben looks almost distraught.”

Joel Stransky then kicks a penalty and slots a drop-goal to give the Boks a 9-6 lead at the break.

In the second period the All Blacks try and bring Lomu into the game more often, but he is mowed down every time he touches the ball.

Andrew Mehrtens levels the scores at 9-9. With two minutes remaining, and with the All Blacks pressing, Mehrtens has an opportunity to drop the winning goal. “He misses. I sigh with relief. It was a wasted chance. Everyone knows that. Maybe this will be our day,” recalls Pienaar.

It’s full time. “I tell the players to look around them, to watch the flags waving and to look at all the people who are relying on us to pull this game through for them,” says Pienaar.

Mehrtens puts his team 12-9 up with a penalty, but the scores are soon level again after a Stransky penalty.

Then the moment that changed South African rugby history. “We kick on their back three again, Osborne is snared in our defensive blanket and we earn the scrum in an attacking position. I call a blindside move, from where we will be able to lay a solid forward platform. The scrum wheels and is reset. Joel cancels my call from flyhalf. He says he wants the ball immediately.

“Joost passes, Joel collects and strikes the most perfect drop goal. It soars higher than the uprights, but passes between them. We lead by 15-12.

“With two minutes left, we win another penalty but Joel pushes his kick to the right of the posts. Stay tight. A maul forms from the drop-out. We win the scrum, and stand solid yet again.

“I watch referee Morrison put his whistle to his mouth. He blows the final whistle, and our lives change forever. We are world champions.” -

South Africa starting XV: Joubert, Small (Venter 97), Mulder, Le Roux, Williams, Stransky, Van der Westhuizen, Andrews (Straeuli 90), Kruger, Pienaar, Strydom, Wiese, Swart (Pagel 68), Rossouw, Du Randt. Unused subs: Drotske, Roux, Johnson

 

New Zealand XV: Osborne, Wilson (Ellis 55), Little, Bunce, Lomu, Mehrtens, Bachop, Brooke, Brewer (Joseph 40), Kronfeld, Jones, Brooke, Brown, Fitzpatrick, Dowd (Loe 83). Unused subs: Hewitt, Strachan, Culhane

Referee: Ed Morrison (Eng)

Attendance: 63000

Final score:

12

15

South Africa scorers:

Penalties: Stransky (3);

Drop-goals: Stransky (2)

 

N Zealand scorers:

Penalties: Mehrtens (3);

Drop-goal: Mehrtens – The Star

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