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Cape Town - As supporters from around the country prepare to send the Springboks to the Rugby World Cup at a public farewell in Sandton on Thursday, we here at Sport24 thought we would show our undivided support for the men in Green and Gold in our own unique way … And invite you to do the same …
Sport has the ability to evoke emotions like nothing else on earth, and thus create memories that become etched in people’s minds. And it gets no bigger than the Rugby World Cup, with the 1995 version being one of the more poignant events in this country’s post apartheid democracy.
So with the 2011 team set to provide their own set of emotions and memories, the Sport24 team share our favourite personal Rugby World Cup memories, and invite you to do the same in the comments below …
We will then collate the comments and get them to the Boks in New Zealand.
Tank Lanning, Sport24 editor and publisher:
I am especially fortunate to have served the late Leo Williams, director of the 1995 and 1999 World Rugby Cups, in various capacities during the ’95, ’99 and ’03 tournaments. I thus got to see many games live at the various stadia round the world, including both the ’95 and ’99 finals. The memories range from a lowly “Who the f*** are you?” response from James Dalton, a man I played SA Schools with in ’89, when I went up to him at the post final banquet in ’95 … to the ultimate high of being in the stands when that “Good Luck Bokke” Boeing almost gave me a haircut before the kickoff of that same final at Ellis Park …
But my fondest memories are perhaps reserved for the 1999 World Cup. Based in a 4 or 5 star hotel in Deauville for 2 weeks, I was a sucker for the giant pots of “Moules-frites” that came my way - Mussles in creamy garlic sauce served with French fries … But that semi final at Twickenham that saw the All Blacks crash out to France sticks in my mind like it was yesterday. Les Bleus slipped to 24-10 behind in the first half, and it looked like plain sailing for the All Blacks, but in a sudden Gallic turnaround, they went on to add 33 points to just 7 from the All Blacks for a sensational victory. The crowd, always keen to back an underdog, and buoyed by the French amongst us, belted out the “Les Bleus, Les Bleus” chant like their lives depended on it. Truly spine tingling stuff!
Garrin Lambley, Sport24 managing editor
The 1995 Rugby World Cup Opening Game at Newlands remains a sporting highlight. Squashed into the standing room area with a bunch of friends, all waiting to see Francois Pienaar lead the Boks onto the field against the Wallabies. At the final whistle, with the Boks victorious, one got the feeling something far bigger lay ahead. And it sure did! Joel Stransky ensured a nation were sent into ecstasy as he drop-kicked the Boks to RWC glory - and sent every rugby-mad South African pouring onto the streets in celebration. Sixteen years ago... feels life last week. More of the same please, the class of 2011...
David Brooke, Sport24 commercial manager:
Not growing up with rugby ingrained in me due to my primary school not offering it as a sport, the Rugby World Cup in 1995 ignited the flame in my heart that now burns brighter than ever for South African rugby. I had never owned a rugby ball before, but my mom bought me one from one of the petrol stations and after the final whistle in 1995, I took my rugby ball out into the road and just started throwing the ball around with my friend. Cars were driving past, hooting, people were screaming with delight, there was just such a festive atmosphere. I will always remember standing in the middle of my road, rugby ball in hand and just taking in all the celebrations as the Springboks lifted the Rugby World Cup.
Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer:
The opening match of the 1995 World Cup, when the Boks beat the Wallabies 27-18 to ensure an all-important, easier passage to the final, remains not only my most enduring RWC memory, but among my top personal-attendance picks in sport broadly. At the time I was a returning “tourist” to my own country, from my then work-base in Hong Kong, and sat behind the Newlands posts on a glorious late autumn day as 51 000 people sang the new national anthem with gusto, welcomed Madiba onto the field with a deafening roar, and then willed Francois Pienaar and his troops to glory in a wave of post-democracy patriotism. I also had a great view of the famous Pieter Hendriks “swerve” en route to his memorable try. Afterwards many suburban streets pretty much turned to jubilant street parties. Man, it felt good to be home!
Dominic Valentine, multimedia editor
That tackle…1995
The first time Jonah Lomu got the ball in the 1995 final of the Rugby World Cup he was gang-tackled by Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Joubert and James Small. Every time the ball came to him he was swamped by tacklers. Up until that moment Lomu had been the focus of the World Cup, a physical freak of nature who people thought could not be stopped (Despite being rated one of the best wings of all time Jonah was never able to score a try against the Boks). When the Boks brought him down there was a huge roar from the crowd that brought the stadium alive. I think it was the first time the Bokke began to believe that they could beat the best team in the world, and their in-your-face approach on defence has come to epitomize the Bokke ever since.
Liam Moses, Sport24 Intern:
My favourite Rugby World Cup memory would have to be USA wing Takudzwa Ngwenya’s try against South Africa during the pool stages of the 2007 World Cup. I was watching the game at home with my family when the Zimbabwean, who became a USA citizen when his mother won the Greencard Lottery, showed a scintillating turn of pace to beat Springbok star Bryan Habana and cross the whitewash. Ngwenya’s try helped make the final score slightly more respectable.
Ray Silinga, Sport24 morning producer:
It would have to be the 2007 Rugby World Cup final against England in Paris on October 20 when former president Thabo Mbeki was held aloft by Ashwin Willemse with the Webb Ellis trophy. I was at home watching the RWC final with family and friends and I marveled at how much we can achieve when we are united. It’s a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life as sport has a way of breaking down social barriers to create a level playing field.
Herman Mostert, Sport24 night producer:
My best Rugby World Cup memory was in 1995, when the Springboks won the trophy – against all odds – at the first time of asking. Nobody gave South Africa a chance, as the team had struggled in the build-up to that tournament. What made it even more special for me was the fact that the Boks pulled through to win, when on two occasions near the end of the tournament, they nearly went out due to external factors beyond their control – red and yellow cards! So going on to win - when everything was stacked against us - made that 1995 win so special for me.
Sport has the ability to evoke emotions like nothing else on earth, and thus create memories that become etched in people’s minds. And it gets no bigger than the Rugby World Cup, with the 1995 version being one of the more poignant events in this country’s post apartheid democracy.
So with the 2011 team set to provide their own set of emotions and memories, the Sport24 team share our favourite personal Rugby World Cup memories, and invite you to do the same in the comments below …
We will then collate the comments and get them to the Boks in New Zealand.
Tank Lanning, Sport24 editor and publisher:
I am especially fortunate to have served the late Leo Williams, director of the 1995 and 1999 World Rugby Cups, in various capacities during the ’95, ’99 and ’03 tournaments. I thus got to see many games live at the various stadia round the world, including both the ’95 and ’99 finals. The memories range from a lowly “Who the f*** are you?” response from James Dalton, a man I played SA Schools with in ’89, when I went up to him at the post final banquet in ’95 … to the ultimate high of being in the stands when that “Good Luck Bokke” Boeing almost gave me a haircut before the kickoff of that same final at Ellis Park …
But my fondest memories are perhaps reserved for the 1999 World Cup. Based in a 4 or 5 star hotel in Deauville for 2 weeks, I was a sucker for the giant pots of “Moules-frites” that came my way - Mussles in creamy garlic sauce served with French fries … But that semi final at Twickenham that saw the All Blacks crash out to France sticks in my mind like it was yesterday. Les Bleus slipped to 24-10 behind in the first half, and it looked like plain sailing for the All Blacks, but in a sudden Gallic turnaround, they went on to add 33 points to just 7 from the All Blacks for a sensational victory. The crowd, always keen to back an underdog, and buoyed by the French amongst us, belted out the “Les Bleus, Les Bleus” chant like their lives depended on it. Truly spine tingling stuff!
Garrin Lambley, Sport24 managing editor
The 1995 Rugby World Cup Opening Game at Newlands remains a sporting highlight. Squashed into the standing room area with a bunch of friends, all waiting to see Francois Pienaar lead the Boks onto the field against the Wallabies. At the final whistle, with the Boks victorious, one got the feeling something far bigger lay ahead. And it sure did! Joel Stransky ensured a nation were sent into ecstasy as he drop-kicked the Boks to RWC glory - and sent every rugby-mad South African pouring onto the streets in celebration. Sixteen years ago... feels life last week. More of the same please, the class of 2011...
David Brooke, Sport24 commercial manager:
Not growing up with rugby ingrained in me due to my primary school not offering it as a sport, the Rugby World Cup in 1995 ignited the flame in my heart that now burns brighter than ever for South African rugby. I had never owned a rugby ball before, but my mom bought me one from one of the petrol stations and after the final whistle in 1995, I took my rugby ball out into the road and just started throwing the ball around with my friend. Cars were driving past, hooting, people were screaming with delight, there was just such a festive atmosphere. I will always remember standing in the middle of my road, rugby ball in hand and just taking in all the celebrations as the Springboks lifted the Rugby World Cup.
Rob Houwing, Sport24 chief writer:
The opening match of the 1995 World Cup, when the Boks beat the Wallabies 27-18 to ensure an all-important, easier passage to the final, remains not only my most enduring RWC memory, but among my top personal-attendance picks in sport broadly. At the time I was a returning “tourist” to my own country, from my then work-base in Hong Kong, and sat behind the Newlands posts on a glorious late autumn day as 51 000 people sang the new national anthem with gusto, welcomed Madiba onto the field with a deafening roar, and then willed Francois Pienaar and his troops to glory in a wave of post-democracy patriotism. I also had a great view of the famous Pieter Hendriks “swerve” en route to his memorable try. Afterwards many suburban streets pretty much turned to jubilant street parties. Man, it felt good to be home!
Dominic Valentine, multimedia editor
That tackle…1995
The first time Jonah Lomu got the ball in the 1995 final of the Rugby World Cup he was gang-tackled by Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Joubert and James Small. Every time the ball came to him he was swamped by tacklers. Up until that moment Lomu had been the focus of the World Cup, a physical freak of nature who people thought could not be stopped (Despite being rated one of the best wings of all time Jonah was never able to score a try against the Boks). When the Boks brought him down there was a huge roar from the crowd that brought the stadium alive. I think it was the first time the Bokke began to believe that they could beat the best team in the world, and their in-your-face approach on defence has come to epitomize the Bokke ever since.
Liam Moses, Sport24 Intern:
My favourite Rugby World Cup memory would have to be USA wing Takudzwa Ngwenya’s try against South Africa during the pool stages of the 2007 World Cup. I was watching the game at home with my family when the Zimbabwean, who became a USA citizen when his mother won the Greencard Lottery, showed a scintillating turn of pace to beat Springbok star Bryan Habana and cross the whitewash. Ngwenya’s try helped make the final score slightly more respectable.
Ray Silinga, Sport24 morning producer:
It would have to be the 2007 Rugby World Cup final against England in Paris on October 20 when former president Thabo Mbeki was held aloft by Ashwin Willemse with the Webb Ellis trophy. I was at home watching the RWC final with family and friends and I marveled at how much we can achieve when we are united. It’s a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life as sport has a way of breaking down social barriers to create a level playing field.
Herman Mostert, Sport24 night producer:
My best Rugby World Cup memory was in 1995, when the Springboks won the trophy – against all odds – at the first time of asking. Nobody gave South Africa a chance, as the team had struggled in the build-up to that tournament. What made it even more special for me was the fact that the Boks pulled through to win, when on two occasions near the end of the tournament, they nearly went out due to external factors beyond their control – red and yellow cards! So going on to win - when everything was stacked against us - made that 1995 win so special for me.
