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
Al-Qadsiah hold Al-Hilal to 2-2 draw in thrilling SPL encounter
- Al-Hilal drop points for the second consecutive game as their lead at the summit is cut to three points
- Julian Quinones moves ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the scoring charts with his 17th goal of the campaign
RIYADH: The Saudi Pro League title race is officially wide open after Al-Qadsiah held Al-Hilal to a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Prince Mohammed bin Fahad Stadium in Dammam. A late equaliser by Salem Al-Dawsari salvaged a point for the league leaders, after Koen Casteels had repeatedly denied him throughout the contest.
Al-Hilal began the match targeting what is usually one of Al-Qadsiah’s strong points. Mohammed Abou Al-Shamat has been a major threat down the right flank this season, but the space he left behind allowed Al-Dawsari to attack that channel early on.
By the eighth minute, Al-Hilal won a corner from that side, and Ruben Neves stunned Casteels with his delivery. The Portuguese midfielder aimed directly at goal, with the ball striking the post before ricocheting off the goalkeeper and into the net.
Al-Qadsiah responded immediately. Musab Al-Juwayr — facing his boyhood club — threaded an accurate pass behind Pablo Mari, who failed to deal with Nahitan Nandez, as the Uruguayan slotted home the equaliser.
The visitors looked to strike back swiftly once more, but this time Al-Qadsiah stood firm. Malcom squared Darwin Nunez for a shot on goal only for Jehad Thekri to block the effort, before Casteels followed up with a strong save to prevent Al-Dawsari on the next attack.
Tempers flared in the 20th minute when Mohammed Kanno and Nandez were both booked by the referee following a heated exchange on the touchline.
Despite playing away from home, it was Al-Hilal that took greater control of the game. Mateo Retegui and Julian Quinones struggled to impose themselves in first half, while Al-Dawsari continued to stretch Al-Qadsiah’s back line.
Early in the second half, Al-Hilal capitalised on their momentum. Al-Dawsari drove into the box only to be brought down for a penalty in the 50th minute. The captain stepped up himself, but Casteels once again came out on top with a save.
The Belgian goalkeeper remained defiant in the 72nd minute, denying a curling effort from Malcom after Theo Hernandez surged forward from deep to start the move.
Al-Qadsiah then swung the momentum in their favour. In the 77th minute, Al-Juwayr delivered a pinpoint corner that was powered home by Quinones, taking him to 17 league goals for the season.
Al-Hilal pressed relentlessly for an equaliser, and it arrived in dramatic fashion in the dying minutes of the game. Al-Dawsari finally got the better of Casteels, when he capitalised on a free-kick cleared his way from the edge of the box to send the away fans into a frenzy.
Stoppage time saw both sides go at it, with the clearest chance falling to Nandez, whose delicate chip over Yassine Bounou drifted inches wide in the 95th minute before the final whistle sounded.
Al-Qadsiah’s inability to claim all three points means the gap to Al-Hilal is reduced to six points rather than three. Al-Ahli, currently second, now sit just three points off the summit ahead of their clash with Al-Hilal on Monday in Riyadh.
Earlier in the evening, Al-Ittihad travelled to Al-Hasa for a thrilling encounter with Al-Fateh that ended in 2-2 draw. In the absence of Karim Benzema, Saleh Al-Shehri scored a brace only for Matias Vargas’ dagger to deny the visitors the three points.
Meanwhile, a hat-trick by Carlos Junior put Al-Shabab back on track after a 4-0 victory against Al-Hazem.
Action resumes on Friday to conclude Matchday 19, with Al-Taawoun hosting Al-Okhdood at 6:50pm, followed by NEOM vs. Damac and Al-Kholood vs. Al-Nassr at 8:30pm. Victory will be crucial for Al-Nassr, as three points would put them within touching distance of the league leaders.
