When Nelson Mandela came into the presidency in 1994, he was taking on the seemingly impossible task of uniting a nation that was on the brink of civil war. Still suffering from the effects of apartheid, South Africa was ready for a change. However, tensions were still incredibly high between blacks and whites. With the Rugby World Cup to be hosted by South Africa in 1995, Nelson saw an opportunity for something great.
Just as Hockey is in Canada, Football is in America, and Soccer is in Brazil, Rugby is a religion in South Africa. However, at the time the Springboks (South Africa’s national team, were a symbol of apartheid, privilege, and separatism. So much so that black South Africans would often cheer loud and proud for any team that South Africa was playing. Furthermore, supporters of the newly elected Mandela rallied to get him to change the team’s name and colours.
The green and gold were colours with deep roots in South African history, and depending on who you were, they were either dark roots or bright roots. Either way, the national team was crumbling and was not expected to make any sort of noise at the upcoming world cup- a tournament in which South Africa was previously barred from due to apartheid.
Mandela refused to have the colours changed and he saw the upcoming world cup as an opportunity to perhaps help bridge the gap that was so prominent in his country. Despite even his own colleagues trying to stop him from doing so, he knew in his heart that what he was doing was right.
Shortly after becoming president, Mandela had private meetings with Springboks Captain Francois Pienaar, discussing the upcoming world tournament and his desire to unite the nation through the sport of rugby. They knew the chances were slim and that it would be damn near impossible to get the people who see the green and gold as a symbol of hate to cheer for them, but it was a chance they were willing to take.
There was more on the line than just a trophy- Francois Pienaar had instilled a belief in his entire team that this was about bringing a country back together. Being brothers and not enemies. With this belief the team had made it all the way to the finals where they were to face the most feared team, The New Zealand All Blacks, who had been crushing everyone they’ve faced.
Prior to the final match, Mandela came out in front of 65,000 South Africans, both black and white, cheering alongside each other for their country. Wearing the once despised green and gold, he greeted every player on the field. Millions of South Africans were watching from their homes, on the streets, or at bars.
The game was every bit as tough as everyone thought it would be. It was 9-9 after full-time. Extra time was needed to be played for the Webb Ellis Trophy. Joel Stransky of South Africa would score the final drop goal to give the Boks the 15-12 lead with 7 minutes left in extra time. From there it was defend, defend, defend.
When the final whistle blew, the entire nation erupted in cheers. Blacks and whites were celebrating alongside each other in unity. The Springboks won their first ever rugby world cup.
Pienaar immediately went down on one knee and his team joined him in a moment of prayer.
In his post game interview, Pienaar was told: “We have 65,000 South Africans here today, tremendous support.” His response?
“David, we didn’t have 60,000 South Africans we had 43 million South Africans.” A response of which garnered a thunderous applause.
The moment in which South Africa’s captain shook hands with their new president, who was wearing their colours, was one that remains to this day as one of the most significant moments for South Africa in recent history.
There were, and still are, very real problems in South Africa that simply couldn’t be solved with this one moment alone. However, if even for a short time, the Springbok victory did bring a nation together and marked a new era in South African history.
R.I.P. Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013.
