Nelson Mandela and his retro Springboks drip

The Springboks have had many influential Rugby World Cup fans down the years, but Nelson Mandela was certainly the greatest, and arguably the most stylish.

Nelson Mandela repping the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup 1995

The 1995 final will never be forgotten. Joel Stransky’s drop-kick settled the contest in extra time, producing a 15-12 scoreline to be forever etched in the hearts and minds of fanatical Bok supporters. As skipper Francois Pienaar said while clutching the William Webb Ellis trophy:

“We didn’t have 60,000 South Africans, we had 43 million South Africans.” Images of Pienaar alongside then-president Nelson Mandela still adorn walls across the land. This 1995 Bok kit was iconic, made to look even better by Madiba with the classic cricket-style cap. Undefeated.

Treat yourself to some Madiba magic

Clutch Springboks kickers: Pollard or Steyn?

What do Handrè Pollard and the legendary François Steyn have in common? Well, they’ve both slotted massive penalties to help their sides to Rugby World Cup knockout wins against England. Frans Steyn did it in the biggest game of all back in 2007 in France when he was just 20 years old, seemingly unperturbed by the unbearable pressure heaped on his shoulders. He converted from 48 metres in the 62nd minute in the final to give the Springboks a 15-6 lead. England never recovered. Pollard said the nerveless penalty in 2023’s semi-final was the best strike of his career.

South Africans know how to fight

Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit completed 28 tackles against the All Blacks in the 2023 final. To put that absurd number into some type of context, the previous record for tackles made by one player in a Rugby World Cup final was 18 by Richie McCaw all the way back in 2011. To eclipse that mark by 10 is a monumental effort. Collectively, the Springboks made 208 tackles in the final, the most ever in a knockout match at the RWC.

What’s your best Nelson Mandela memory in a sporting context?

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