Latest news with #Stransky
The South African
16-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Happy Birthday Joel Stransky: Thanks for THAT drop goal
The Springboks unforgettably won the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 1995 thanks in part to one of heroes of the day, flyhalf Joel Stransky. The final will of course be remembered for a host of different reasons, but one of the most iconic moments was his famous match-winning drop goal in extra-time against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. Stransky also wrote his name in the history books in the opening match of the 1995 World Cup when he became the first Springbok to score all four possible ways in a Test as he scored a try, a conversion, four penalties and a drop goal to guide South Africa to a 27-18 win over defending champions, Australia. His heroics at the 1995 World Cup – and particularly in the final – is undoubtedly the central highlight of a career that saw Stransky rack up 240 points in 22 Tests. Stransky turns 58 today, Tuesday, 16 July. Full names: Joel Theodore Stransky Date of birth: 16 July 1967 Place of birth: Johannesburg Schools: Maritzburg College Rondebosch Springbok: #592 Physical: 1.77m, 85.7kg Test summary: Tests: 22 Tries: 6 First Test: 31 July 1993 – Flyhalf against Australia at Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Last Test: 31 August 1996 – Reserve against New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg After briefly dabbling in some coaching after retirement, Stransky successfully moved into the corporate world, which included roles with Altech Netstar, Hertz SA and the Pivotal Group. He is also currently an owner at Paperlogic Hygiene, a company focused on the manufacturing and distribution of paper products and cleaning/hygiene solutions. Besides having held executive positions in the technology, finance, and corporate sectors, he is also well known as a regular analyst and commentator on SuperSport. Stransky also occasionally serves as a motivational speaker on leadership, performance, and mental resilience. According to LinkedIn : 'Joel Stransky is a successful entrepreneur with firm roots in marketing. With over 10 years' experience in senior management in the corporate world, he co-founded Pivotal in 2012. Joel spearheaded growth strategies for the Pivotal group of companies, a sustainable group of synergistic businesses that are game changers in their respective fields.'After a successful rugby career, Joel's business acumen and natural leadership ability led him into the corporate sports marketing world, where he became an Executive Director at Megapro, South Africa's leading sports marketing company. Joel looked after the commercial affairs of the South African Rugby Union, headed up hospitality at the 2003 Cricket World Cup and consulted to the Bid Book that won the rights to the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup.'He quickly gained a strong reputation and joined Altech Netstar as Director of Sales and Marketing, which saw the company grow significantly, promoting Joel to the role of Altech Netstar Group Managing Director. This results-driven initiative piqued the interest of the Steinhoff Group, where he took up a management position and then became responsible for the turnaround strategy for Hertz Rent-a-Car group. 'Joel's entrepreneurial nature and drive prompted his departure from the corporate world. As a Director at Pivotal Capital/Group, he has played a major role in the successfully growing of the group which now includes seven companies that are leaders in their respective fields.'
The South African
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
On this day in 1995: Springboks win first-ever World Cup
On June 24, 1995, the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in a dramatic 15-12 victory over New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. The win was historic – not just for rugby, but for a country emerging from decades of apartheid. On June 24, 1995, the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup for the first time, beating New Zealand 15-12 in extra time at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The victory came just three years after South Africa returned to international rugby following apartheid-era sporting isolation. The Springboks opened their tournament with a 27-18 win over reigning champions Australia at Newlands, with tries from winger Pieter Hendriks and flyhalf Joel Stransky. They followed that result with pool-stage victories over Romania and Canada to top their group, although the final pool match—dubbed the 'Battle of Boet Erasmus'—turned ugly. Hooker James Dalton was sent off during a mass brawl against Canada, and Hendriks later received a suspension. Chester Williams replaced Hendriks for the quarter-final against Samoa and made an immediate impact, scoring four tries in a 42-14 win at Ellis Park. The match proved costly, with several players picking up injuries, including fullback Andre Joubert, who fractured his hand. Despite his injury, Joubert returned for the semi-final in Durban against France—a match nearly postponed due to torrential rain. In difficult conditions, the Springboks controlled territory and managed a 19-15 win. Stransky contributed 14 points with the boot, while the Springboks' forwards contained the French pack in the wet. In the other semi-final, the All Blacks comfortably beat England 45-29 at Newlands, with winger Jonah Lomu scoring four tries in a dominant performance. Lomu's pace and power became the central focus ahead of the final, where he was expected to be the deciding factor. The final kicked off at a packed Ellis Park, with both teams opting for tactical, physical rugby. South Africa's game plan focused on shutting down Lomu early, with Joost van der Westhuizen and James Small combining to tackle the winger repeatedly and limit his impact. Stransky and New Zealand's Andrew Mehrtens exchanged penalties throughout the match, with the score tied 9-9 at full time. The game moved into extra time, where both teams added one penalty each to stay level at 12-12. With just over 10 minutes left in the second period of extra time, Stransky received the ball in space and kicked a clean drop goal from 30 metres out. That kick gave the Springboks a 15-12 lead, which they held until the final whistle. After the final whistle, President Nelson Mandela walked onto the field wearing a Springbok jersey bearing captain Francois Pienaar's No 6. He handed the Webb Ellis Cup to Pienaar in front of a full stadium and a global television audience. The win marked the Springboks' first Rugby World Cup title and their return to the global sporting stage. It was also the first time a host nation had won the tournament since the inaugural event in 1987. The 1995 final remains one of rugby's most memorable matches—defined by disciplined defence, tactical kicking, and a decisive moment in extra time. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
18-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
RWC 1995 anniversary: What is Joel Stransky doing now?
The Springboks unforgettably won the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 1995, and as we celebrate the 30-year anniversary of the iconic final, we take a look back at some of the famed heroes of the day, starting with none other than Joel Stransky. Or course, that title decider will be remembered for a host of different reasons, but one of the most iconic moments was the famous match-winning drop goal in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. Stransky also wrote his name in the history books in the opening match of the 1995 World Cup when he became the first Springbok to score all four possible ways in a Test as he scored a try, a conversion, four penalties and a drop goal to guide South Africa to a 27-18 win over defending champions, Australia. His heroics at the 1995 World Cup – and particularly in the final – is undoubtedly the central highlight of a special career that saw Stransky rack up 240 points in 22 Tests. After briefly dabbling in some coaching after he retired, Stransky successfully moved into the corporate world, which included roles with Altech Netstar, Hertz SA and the Pivotal Group. He is also currently an owner at Paperlogic Hygiene, a company focused on the manufacturing and distribution of paper products and cleaning/hygiene solutions. Besides having held executive positions in the technology, finance, and corporate sectors, he is also well known as a regular analyst and commentator on SuperSport. The former flyhalf also occasionally serves as a motivational speaker on leadership, performance, and mental resilience. According to LinkedIn : 'Joel Stransky is a successful entrepreneur with firm roots in marketing. With over 10 years' experience in senior management in the corporate world, he co-founded Pivotal in 2012. Joel spearheaded growth strategies for the Pivotal group of companies, a sustainable group of synergistic businesses that are game changers in their respective fields.'After a successful rugby career, Joel's business acumen and natural leadership ability led him into the corporate sports marketing world, where he became an Executive Director at Megapro, South Africa's leading sports marketing company. Joel looked after the commercial affairs of the South African Rugby Union, headed up hospitality at the 2003 Cricket World Cup and consulted to the Bid Book that won the rights to the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup.'He quickly gained a strong reputation and joined Altech Netstar as Director of Sales and Marketing, which saw the company grow significantly, promoting Joel to the role of Altech Netstar Group Managing Director. This results-driven initiative piqued the interest of the Steinhoff Group, where he took up a management position and then became responsible for the turnaround strategy for Hertz Rent-a-Car group. 'Joel's entrepreneurial nature and drive prompted his departure from the corporate world. As a Director at Pivotal Capital/Group, he has played a major role in the successfully growing of the group which now includes seven companies that are leaders in their respective fields.'
