JOHANNESBURG: Members of South Africa’s 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning team gathered on Wednesday for the 20-year anniversary of their Nelson Mandela-inspired victory.
Captain Francois Pienaar and former teammates posed for photos at Ellis Park, the stadium where they beat tournament favorite New Zealand in the final two decades ago.
The Springboks’ successful campaign, just a year after the country’s first all-race elections ended apartheid, is one of sport’s enduring stories.
Mandela, who died in 2013, appeared at the final wearing one of Pienaar’s jerseys, a gesture by the newly elected president that urged South Africans to unite behind their team after decades under a divisive regime.
Joost van der Westhuizen, the former star now suffering from motor neuron disease, was among those attending the reunion.
Joel Stransky slotted the extra-time drop-goal that delivered a 15-12 triumph over the New Zealand All Blacks on June 24 1995 before a Johannesburg crowd including then President Mandela.
Stransky was among the survivors of that team who gathered at Ellis Park on a warm sunny southern hemisphere winter afternoon to remember the first of two Springbok World Cup titles.
South African rugby boss Oregan Hoskins said it was a day to celebrate, but to also remember fallen heroes Mandela, coach Kitch Christie and flanker Ruben Kruger.
Mandela passed away in late 2013 aged 95 and Christie and Kruger succumbed to cancer many years before.
“We proudly celebrate this day as a rugby family because the team helped Nelson Mandela unite a country.
“It was a moment that astonished a nation and provided one of the foundation stones for the country we were to become.”
Stransky, now a pundit for Johannesburg-based pan-African sports channel SuperSport, is upbeat about another green-and-gold World Cup triumph this October.
“I think the Springboks will win the World Cup,” he told reporters.
“Critics say it is an old team, but it is a very experienced team.
“A few youngsters and a couple of real match-winners can turn a game.
“We can come away with the title — it is certainly possible.”
Pienaar, a flanker and skipper of the 1995 team, was reluctant to predict the outcome of the 2015 World Cup.
“I am just an old has-been,” he quipped. “I just enjoy the game.
“It is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested tournaments — the 2015 Six Nations was one of the best I have seen.
“England will put on a great show and it will be the biggest Rugby World Cup so far.”
Apartheid prevented South Africa playing in the first two editions of the World Cup won by New Zealand in 1987 and Australia four years later.
Despite home advantage, the Springboks were not the 1995 favorites, with poor build-up results, coaching changes and selection uncertainties.
But in Mandela, whose ANC party had swept to victory in the first multiracial South African elections during 1994, the Springboks had a master motivator.
He regularly called Pienaar, visited the team, and attended the opening match in which the Springboks defeated the Australian Wallabies and the final.
“Nelson, Nelson, Nelson,” chanted the capacity 60,000-plus crowd as he walked on to the pitch wearing a replica of the No. 6 Pienaar jersey and a Springboks cap.
South Africa successfully contained giant New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu, who scored four tries against England in the semifinals.
And the match was won six minutes from the end of extra-time when Van der Westhuizen passed to Stransky after a scrum, and the oval ball sailed between the posts.
Mandela handed the trophy to Pienaar and said: “Thank you, Francois, for what you have done.”
Pienaar replied: “No, Mr.Mandela, thank you for what you have done.”
20 years on, South Africa remembers Rugby World Cup winners
20 years on, South Africa remembers Rugby World Cup winners
Saudi rally driver sets her sights on the fast lane
- With podium finishes at home and ambitions abroad, Mashael Al-Howaish is ready for the next race
- Rally Jameel remained a defining chapter in Al-Howaish’s journey, exposing her to the demands of desert racing and pushing her beyond familiar limits
MAKKAH: What began as a chance encounter with motorsport has evolved into a growing rallying career for Saudi driver Mashael Al-Howaish.
With a growing list of domestic achievements and ambitions that extend beyond the Kingdom’s borders, Al-Howaish is carving out her place in a discipline defined by endurance, precision and mental resilience.
Her first exposure to rally driving came as she emceed the second Rally Jameel in 2023, the region’s first women-only navigational rally.
Witnessing the participants’ determination and competitiveness sparked Al-Howaish’s curiosity about motorsport and encouraged her to explore the possibility of competing herself.
A recommendation from Saudi rally driver Abdullah Bakhashab opened the door to her first professional opportunity with Lexus, marking the start of her rally career during the fourth Rally Jameel in 2024.
That quickly translated into results. As a Lexus team driver, Al-Howaish secured first place in her category and sixth overall among more than 40 participants.
Rally Jameel remained a defining chapter in her journey, exposing her to the demands of desert racing and pushing her beyond familiar limits. She continued to compete in subsequent editions, later earning second place overall and first in her category, before taking part in events at other race circuits across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa region.
Despite entering a traditionally male-dominated sport, Al-Howaish says she did not perceive her path as a challenging one.
Instead, she highlights the extensive support she received on multiple fronts, from Saudi Arabia’s leadership and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation to corporate backing from Lexus.
She also credits her family, particularly her mother, for playing a vital role in shaping her confidence and determination long before she entered competitive racing.
Among her domestic successes, Al-Howaish considers her Time Attack victory in Jeddah last year as one of the most significant milestones of her career. One of her earliest races, it saw her progress steadily to first place in the Women’s Cup, reinforcing her belief in her own capabilities.
Another pivotal moment came in 2024, during the Racing Hill Climb, where she raced on mountainous terrain for the first time in Taif. The unfamiliar conditions tested her technical skills and adaptability, ultimately accelerating her development as a driver.
Competing at a high level has reshaped Al-Howaish both on and off the track. Racing alongside experienced champions has, she says, been both humbling and motivating.
Over time, she has developed a deeper understanding of the technical side of motorsport, spending increasing amounts of time studying vehicle dynamics and kinematics to better synchronize her driving style with the car. Personally, the sport has made her more confident in facing uncertainty, strengthening her ability to approach new challenges with focus rather than fear.
Al-Howaish is often viewed as a role model for Saudi women entering motorsport, something which makes her feel humble. She says she would be honored to inspire just one woman but believes role models exist across all levels of the industry. For her, progress comes from observing the strengths of others and applying those lessons to one’s own journey — a philosophy she sees as relevant far beyond motorsports.
Managing pressure and risk is an integral part of rallying, and Al-Howaish relies on preparation and composure to navigate intense stages. Planning ahead helps her mitigate challenges, while calm decision-making becomes crucial when conditions change unexpectedly.
In a sport where every second counts, she emphasizes that clarity and decisiveness often make the difference between success and setback.
Looking ahead, Al-Howaish has set her sights firmly on international competition. She aims to compete in the Middle East Rally Championship and hopes one day to line up at the start of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
She is also eager to explore other racing formats, viewing the learning process itself as one of the most rewarding aspects of her career.
To young Saudi women who aspire to follow a similar path but hesitate because they fear failing, Al-Howaish offers a simple word of advice — start.
She believes progress begins with the first step, learning through experience and allowing confidence to grow over time.
In a rapidly evolving motorsports scene, her journey stands as a reflection of what is increasingly possible in Saudi Arabia — both on the road and beyond it.
