Rugby is one of South Africa’s most popular sports, and it’s safe to say that the country is one of the best in the world. The Springboks are on another level and have some of rugby’s best players. That’s why it is probably not surprising that there have been many iconic moments over the years.
Some will go down in history, so we believe that all rugby fans should know about them. That’s why it’s time to take a close look at each one.
The 1995 World Cup
As mentioned, South Africa has one of the best rugby teams in the world and has won countless trophies over the years. The 1995 World Cup, however, has a special place in everyone’s heart because it was the first-ever World Cup triumph. What makes it even more special is that The Springboks won it in front of a home crowd.
Back then, South Africa was not among the favorites to win this competition. Having emerged from sporting isolation just a few years ago, people did not know what to expect from SA’s rugby team. Despite being the underdogs, the Springboks proved to the world that they have some of the best rugby players and won the tournament.
Even more special about the 1995 World Cup was that Nelson Mandela was elected as the country’s president the year before. During the World Cup Final, Mandela wore a shirt with the number 6 and decided to cheer up the team before the game started. As expected, this was a huge motivation for the squad to win.
As for the final itself, it was epic to watch, and the result during the regular time was 9-9. The extra time was amazing to watch, and in the end, South Africa won the event. This allowed Mandela to give the trophy to Francois Pienaar, one of SA’s legendary captains.
Chester Williams’s 4 tried versus Samoa
People who follow rugby know that scoring four triers over a given tournament is an impressive achievement, to say the least. Now that you know this, you can only imagine how Chester Williams felt when he did that in a single match against Western Samoa in the 1995 World Cup. He did that at Ellis Park and had a crucial role in his country’s impressive 42-14 victory.
Aside from Williams’s impressive achievement, the moment was even more special because he was the only black player on his team. Keep in mind that the match took place in 1995, right after the significant events that took place in South Africa.
Unfortunately, Chester Williams is no longer with us because South Africa’s legend died in 2019.
The thrilling victory against the Lions in 2009
South Africa’s rugby team has had numerous epic rugby matches, but the one against the Lions in 2009 is more special. After winning the first clash against them, The Springboks had to face their opponents again in Pretoria.
As expected, the game was very close, and just 3 minutes before the match ended, SA led 25-22. Fans expected the country to win the match, but Stephen Jones from the Lions equalized the result, and both teams started preparing for the extra time. However, this was when the miracle happened, and Morne Steyn scored an incredible penalty just a few seconds before the match ended. The penalty was enough for the Springboks to win the epic match.
