Picture the scene. Siya Kolisi, the first black Bok captain, raised in Zwide township outside of Port Elizabeth, lifting the World Cup
The country came together to back the rugby team
‘In many ways, rugby can be seen as symbolic of the pitfalls bedevilling the best-intentioned attempts at nation-building’
The key to the Jo’burg franchise’s supremacy this season lies in keeping the ball and using it wisely.
The key to the Jo’burg franchise’s supremacy this season lies in keeping the ball and using it wisely.
Members of the 1995 World Cup Springbok squad gathered for a reunion marking the 20-year anniversary when they beat the All Blacks 15-12.
South Africans are reminded of "Madiba Magic" when 1995 World Cup winning Springbok captain Francois Pienaar pays tribute to Nelson Mandela.
Inexperienced Springbok team could surprise Australia, but the odds are against them.
In the film <em>Invictus</em> former president Nelson Mandela narrowly wins grudging approval from the administrators to retain the Springbok emblem.
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/ 15 February 2008
South African rugby will enjoy an auspicious season this year. We begin the year as the envy of the rugby-playing nations, champions of both the world and the Super 14. Even the internecine wrangling for power in the South African Rugby Union (Saru) has failed to dim that envy.
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/ 26 October 2007
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For the first time in its 20-year history, the third place play-off game was better than the Rugby World Cup final. A joyous Argentinian side swept aside host nation France at the Parc des Princes 24 hours before South Africa finally quenched the English flame and put the light out on that team’s four-year reign as champions.
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/ 21 October 2007
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Pride and politics mixed on Sunday as South Africans celebrated their Rugby World Cup final win over England. Festivities continued through the night as South Africans packed fan parks and restaurants and filled the streets with honking cars draped with the national flag.
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/ 21 October 2007
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South Africa exploded on Saturday night, the final whistle in the World Cup bringing the rainbow nation on to the streets in the time it takes to lift the Webb Ellis trophy. ”The country needs this,” shouted fan Evan Rice. ”Last time, in 1995, we were on the crest of the wave. Now, though, this is better.”
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/ 20 October 2007
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In this most weird and wonderful Rugby World Cup, England is making it seem like anything is possible. That includes winning the final against South Africa on Saturday at Stade de France, a prospect that was utterly absurd little more than a month ago.
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/ 19 October 2007
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As a wax model of English rugby star Jonny Wilkinson joined the statue of national hero Horatio Nelson in London’s Trafalgar Square, attention in both England and South Africa was on Friday focused on the looming Rugby World Cup final between the two nations.
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/ 19 October 2007
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South Africa captain John Smit will seek to emulate Francois Pienaar on Saturday in lifting the Rugby World Cup in the final and admits he is driven by a sense of destiny, though he accepts it will not fall into his lap. The 29-year-old hooker was present in Johannesburg when South Africa stunned the All Blacks and Pienaar received the World Cup from Nelson Mandela.
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/ 19 October 2007
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‘I’ve believed for a long time now that South Africa are going to win the World Cup,” Jake White says with quiet but utter certainty in his hotel room in Paris. Days away from the final, against an England team that White’s Springboks beat 36-0 last month, it might be presumed that arrogance or complacency underpins the South African coach’s unusually bold honesty.
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/ 19 October 2007
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There have been many times during the past 12 years when the idea of South Africa ever winning the World Cup again seemed utterly ludicrous. Remember when André Markgraaff dropped Francois Pienaar and replaced him in the Springbok squad with Theo OostÂhuizen? That was ludicrous.
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/ 18 October 2007
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Nelson Mandela urged the Springboks on Thursday to emulate their 1995 World Cup victory when his appearance in a gold and green jersey became one of the iconic images of the post-apartheid era. The ageing former South African president said in a pre-recorded video message to the team he was convinced that they would return home triumphant.
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/ 15 October 2007
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Former South African president Nelson Mandela has been invited to attend next weekend’s World Cup final between the Springboks and England. South Africa coach Jake White said the current president Thabo Mbeki had already confirmed he would attend the match and there was a chance Mandela might also come to Paris if he was healthy enough to make the trip.
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/ 25 September 2007
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Clint Eastwood may direct an upcoming Hollywood film based on former South African president Nelson Mandela and his appearance at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final, United States media reported on Tuesday. The drama will see Morgan Freeman portray Mandela, entertainment journal Daily Variety reported.
Former South African World Cup-winning flyhalf Joel Stransky is backing the three southern-hemisphere powers as well as hosts France to have the biggest impact at this year’s Rugby World Cup, which kicks off on September 7. ”If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on South Africa,” he said.