1995 Rugby World Cup: A Contest Of Epic Proportions
The Springboks. From Wikimedia Commons. Note the big man wearing #1, he was at the 95 World Cup.
We’ve all seen trailers for Invictus. The film stars Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman, and centers around Nelson Mandela’s adroit use of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the South African team, the Springboks, as a way to unify his nation. The film is about the the human factor, but the tournament itself is something that the film, according to reviews and also to Joel Stransky glosses over, which is a shame, because the backstory is probably among the greatest sports stories ever told. It would have been worth a payday loan to have seen it.
First Springbok team in the World Cup
The Springboks had not been allowed into the previous two World Cups, in 1987 and 1991. There was a long history of sporting controversy regarding South Africa, including protests all over the world, up to Olympic boycotts. The first World Cup to feature the Springboks was also the World Cup they would host.
Clash of the Titans
Going into the tournament, the 1995 World Cup was likely, on paper, to be won by either Australia or New Zealand. England were also a serious threat, and the French, having been in the previous two World Cup Finals, were also a dangerous side.
Thunder from Down Under
The Australian team that went to the 1995 World Cup hadn’t lost a game in over a year. The roster reads like a hall of fame: Michael Lynagh, the captain, Jason Little, Dan Crowley, Matthew Burke, George Gregan, John Eales, and one of the greatest wings to grace the game, David Campese. The 90s were the Wallabies’ decade. However, EVERY Rugby World Cup is inexorably tipped to be won by the same team – the New Zealand All Blacks.
Look on the All Blacks, ye mighty, and despair
Though their trans-Tasman rivals were certainly fearsome, the New Zealand team that went to South Africa may have been the best All Black team ever fielded. The captain, Sean Fitzpatrick, was equally revered for the quality of his play and for being virtually carved out of granite. (And his ability to manipulate referees.) The forward pack was talented and intimidating, including legends like Zinzan and Robin Brooke, Ian Jones, and Josh Kronfeld. The backline included some of the greatest players in their positions that may have ever been, such as Jeff Wilson, Frank Bunce, Eric Rush, and Andrew Mehrtens. However, the buzz about the All Blacks was all about one man.
Jonah Lomu
Jonah Lomu is a legend. There was never a player like him before or since. He stood 6 foot 4, weighed 270 pounds and ran a 100 m in under 11 seconds. This was the occasion that unveiled a legend in the making to the world, and battered and bruised entire teams along the way – including the famous footage of Lomu running right over Mike Catt of England. He intimidated entire teams with his presence.
This is why it’s a miracle – how did South Africa pull it off?
Sheer gumption. The Springboks were an undercooked side going in. They believed in themselves, and were bound and determined to do the good work, which they did. Though the final was clouded by a controversy over the All Blacks and food poisoning (and a mysterious waitress called “Suzie”), the Boks starved Jonah for ball, and neither side scored a try (essentially a touchdown, like in football), and the game went into extra time – and a few minutes before overtime was up, South African fly half Joel Stransky landed a drop goal – and South Africa emerged victors, 15 – 12. Each Rugby World Cup is special, but the 1995 World Cup is perhaps the most spectacular of them all. It would have been worth payday loans in Golden Valley at least to be there in person.
