Ambitious idea fully realised

1995

Momentous events on the political front in South Africa had seen the Springboks back on the rugby stage a few years before this World Cup, and as the host nation they were exempt from having to qualify. Gone now segregated audiences and apartheid was consigned to history. Under a new flag, with a new anthem and a new regime led by Nelson Mandela, the Springboks went into the World Cup with the slogan "One nation, One team".

Who can ever forget the sight of Nelson Mandela offering his full-hearted support to his country at the opening ceremony in Cape Town? Now it was an Irishman, Sir Ewart Bell, who as chairman of RWC presided at the opening ceremony of a tournament that was bigger and unquestionably better than its two predecessors.

That afternoon South Africa signalled to all that they were back and were as formidable as of old. They defeated holders Australia in the first match and won their group, with Australia second. The level of expectation rose in the host country with each match.

Wales, who had failed to reach the quarter-finals in 1991, had to qualify, the first of the countries from Britain and Ireland to have to do this. But they attained their goal, and were drawn in the group with Ireland, Japan and New Zealand.

A name that will be indelibly linked with this tournament is that of the then teenage New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu. Built like a second-row forward, Lomu in full flight was an awesome sight. The Irish were the first to feel the weight of Lomu, in the initial pool match, and he duly scored two tries as the All Blacks won 43-19. But wins over Japan and, in a thrilling match in Ellis Park, over Wales, saw Ireland qualify for the quarter-finals. France, however, ended Irish hopes in Durban in the quarter-finals.

But Australia, too, failed to go beyond the quarter-finals and lost to England in another exciting encounter, with a drop goal from Rob Andrew proving decisive. Western Samoa again reached the last eight but lost to South Africa, and New Zealand beat Scotland.

Lomu was devastating in the demolition of England in the semi-final, scoring four tries. The South Africans were fortunate in the extreme to beat France in the other semi-final, played in a downpour on a saturated pitch in Durban.

So the Springboks had reached the final and were pitted against the All Blacks. The scenes in Ellis Park were incredible, even if the match itself was noted more for stern defence than spectacular moves of flair. The Springboks kept the shackles on Lomu, and it took extra time to decide the match, which did not produce a try. A drop goal by Springbok out-half Joel Stransky saw the fairytale of a home win come true. Controversy ensued in the days after the match, with All Black coach Laurie Mains saying that several of his team were unwell going into the final and suggesting that their food had been drugged.

It was a controversy that did not in any way dampen Springbok celebrations and who among the millions who watched that match on television will ever forget the sight of the Springbok captain Francois Pienaar with the The Webb Elis Trophy alongside Nelson Mandela in a Springbok jersey given to him by Pienaar.

The image graphically symbolised the "One nation, one team" theme. Unforgettable.