Rugby World Cup 1995: Where were YOU on this day 30 years ago?
Provided you were born of course, 24 June 1995 will forever stick in the memory bank as Francois Pienaar accepted the trophy from Nelson Mandela following a nail-biting extra-time victory over the All Blacks.
Personally, I watched the match at friend's house then headed to that infamous watering hole in Claremont called 'Green Man' (remember it?) where they rescreened the Test. We drank beer, we drank more beer, and then around 05:00 the next morning they kicked us out.
There are also vague recollections of street lights being climbed and flags stolen along Main Road in Rondebosch, but that might just have been the beer talking …
Let us know by …
Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
On this day 30 years ago Joel Stransky landed an extra-time drop goal as the Springboks beat the All Blacks 15-12 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
It was the first of a record four Rugby World Cup titles for the Springboks, who would go on to win the 2007 World Cup in France under captain John Smit and coach Jake White, the 2019 edition in Japan with Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus as skipper and coach, respectively, as well as the 2023 tournament in France with Kolisi and Jacques Nienaber at the helm.
Anyone betting against the Springboks making it a hat-trick of titles – and five overall – in 2027 in Australia?
That day – Saturday, 24 June 1995 – remains arguably the greatest ever sporting occasion in South Africa's history.
So, what has happened to the starting XV from that unforgettable 1995 final?
Tragically, five of the run-on team have died, along with coach Kitch Christie.
15. Andre Joubert
14. James Small (RIP)
13. Japie Mulder
12. Hennie le Roux
11. Chester Williams (RIP)
10. Joel Stransky
9. Joost van der Westhuizen (RIP)
8. Mark Andrews
7. Ruben Kruger (RIP)
6. Francois Pienaar (captain)
5. Hannes Strydom (RIP)
4. Kobus Wiese
3. Balie Swart
2. Chris Roussow
1. Os du Randt
SUBSTITUTES
16. Naka Drotske
17. Brendan Venter
18. Rudolph Straeuli
19. Johan Roux
20. Garry Pagel
21. Gavin Johnson
Coach: Kitch Christie (RIP)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
a minute ago
- The South African
Cristiano Ronaldo puts a ring on it: See the massive engagement ring
After nearly a decade of romance, football icon Cristiano Ronaldo is officially engaged to his long-term partner, Georgina Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 31, confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Monday, showcasing a dazzling diamond ring on her finger as it gently rests on Ronaldo's hand. She captioned the photo: 'Yes I do. In this and in all my lives.' The announcement was met with a wave of congratulations from fans, celebrities, and fellow athletes around the world. A Love Story Nine Years in the Making The couple's journey began in 2016, when Rodriguez was working as a sales assistant at a Gucci store in Madrid. Their chance meeting quickly blossomed into one of football's most high-profile relationships. Together, they have built a family, raising their two daughters – Alana Martina, 7, and Bella Esmeralda, 3. Ronaldo also has three other children from previous surrogacy arrangements, with Rodriguez often referring to all of them as 'our kids' in interviews and social media posts. Now 40, Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong on the field. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner recently extended his contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2027. His career move to Saudi Arabia has also seen Rodriguez and the family settle into life in the Middle East, where they continue to attract global media attention. While no wedding date has been announced yet, fans are already speculating about where the ceremony might take place – with options ranging from Portugal to Dubai. After nearly a decade, five children, and a life lived largely in the public eye, the engagement marks a significant and joyous milestone for one of sport's most famous couples. Congratulations Cristiano and Georgina! Post your congratulations below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
31 minutes ago
- The Citizen
'Grant has been firing': Rassie discusses scrumhalf selection
'Krappie will get a chance next week in Cape Town, hopefully, if things go according to plan.' Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says the three scrumhalves in the current squad are all at a similar level currently, while stressing that Faf de Klerk and Jaden Hendrikse, who are not in the squad, remain in contention for future opportunities. Erasmus on Monday named his matchday 23 to face the Wallabies in their first of two Rugby Championship Tests, to be played at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Grant Williams at scrumhalf and Cobus Reinach on the bench. It comes after Morné van den Berg earned man of the match in his last outing for the Springboks, during their 42–24 win over Italy at Loftus last month, where he kicked well, fed quickly, tackled well, and scored two tries. Scrumhalf quality 'really close' 'If you look at the three nines, I think all three are Test match quality,' Erasmus said. 'They are really close. Cobus is 34 already but he brings a nice, solid, experienced vibe when he gets onto the park. But I think Grant has been firing very well. I think he's over his [neck] injuries.' Erasmus explained that Van den Berg, nicknamed Krappie, will likely feature in the second Test against the Wallabies. 'Krappie will get a chance next week in Cape Town, hopefully, if things go according to plan. If you lose momentum, sometimes you have to change your plan.' He said playing Van den Berg at his Lions home ground might have been special for him, but the team's game plan comes first. 'Krappie is one of the most humble and serving members in the team. He understands.' De Klerk and Hendrikse haven't been forgotten Of De Klerk, who is one of seven standby players for the 37-man squad, and Hendrikse who hasn't feature at all this season, Erasmus said their Bok days are far from over. Especially in light of the 2027 World Cup in Australia. 'Hopefully, in the World Cup play-offs, we will pick the best nine in form. Faf is not at all out of the picture. Jaden is not at all out of the picture. We normally carry four nines.' The coach said their decision to cut the squad helped provide players with more one-on-one attention from coaches. But the pair still join Springbok post-training meetings virtually. '[All the scrumhalves] are competing and don't want to just give the position away, but they also understand that we will rotate.' Erasmus said they are trying to build a culture where the jersey belongs to all the players in their position. 'He [Williams] is not necessarily the first choice, but the way we want to play in this game, we feel he is the best option there. I think the squad has now accepted that we are going to share jerseys and not just say this guy is out-and-out the best.'
The Citizen
31 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Dricus says he's ‘going to shock the world' in UFC fight against Chimaev
The South African middleweight champion is confident he will be able to defend his title once again. In just under a week's time, one of South Africa's most loved sportsmen will finally get what he has been asking for. In the early hours of Sunday morning (SA time) Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title holder Dricus du Plessis will look to successfully defend his strap for a third time at UFC319. Standing in his way is undefeated Russian wrestling specialist Khamzat Chimaev. This fight – already being billed as one of the biggest middleweight title fights in UFC history – will take place at the renowned Staples Centre in Chicago, the home of the Chicago Bulls basketball team. Although born in Russia, Chimaev is currently based in the United Arab Emirates. 'I'm better than most people think' 'I actually wanted to fight Khamzat in Abu Dhabi or somewhere like, and beating him in front of his home people, but it really doesn't matter where the fight is,' Du Plessis said on The Ariel Helwani Show podcast over the weekend. The bad blood between the two has been close to reaching boiling point for some time and Du Plessis is more than ready for this massive challenge despite going into this contest as the underdog. 'Khamzat is a special fighter. He speaks more than he fights, calling out fighters, but never actually fighting,' Du Plessis said. 'He is as good as people think, I am just better than what most people think.' Du Plessis has been in Chicago for a couple weeks now and alongside his hectic training schedule, he has been enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. From going to a Manchester United pre-season friendly to throwing out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game at the world famous Wrigley Field, it is clear he has now become accustomed to the conditions. 'Chicago has to be one of the best cities in America I have been to so far. I am not a big city guy, even though I live in Pretoria, I love nature and the farm is 20 minutes drive from me, but I have been pleasantly surprised here,' said the South African. When asked how he thinks this fight will pan out, Du Plessis was very blunt in his response. 'He will be coming into this fight more prepared than ever. 'But I am going out there to shock the world. You are going to see the 'boogeyman' break, and then you will realise there is only one 'boogeyman', and that is me.'
