Rugby World Cup 1995 I On this day: Tragedy, triumph and turmoil in dramatic third round
Image: AFP
The third round of the 1995 Rugby World Cup began in tragedy.
The match between Tonga and Ivory Coast had barely kicked off when Ivorian wing Max Brito collected a high ball. He was tackled fairly, but following the ensuing ruck, Brito was left prone on his back. He had been paralysed in a freak accident.
It remains the darkest day in the history of the Rugby World Cup. Brito was quickly airlifted to hospital, but the damage was permanent. He would spend 25 years in a wheelchair before passing away in 2022 at the age of 54.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
The match itself was otherwise forgettable, as the two teams fought to avoid finishing bottom of their pool. The West Africans showed improvement from their opening game, where they at times appeared unfamiliar with the rules.
The more experienced Tongans were always in control and secured a 29–11 victory. The match was played in Rustenburg in front of about 8 000 local fans, who passionately supported the underdogs. When Ivorian flanker Alfred Okou scored his team's try, the celebration was so intense it felt as if they had won the game.
The Australia vs Romania fixture was the first international played in Stellenbosch. The venue was selected in honour of South African rugby legend Danie Craven, who lived there for many years and passed away in 1993.
The Wallabies wore striking green jerseys with yellow hoops to avoid a colour clash with Romania's yellow kit. They also used the match as an opportunity to give their backup players a run.
Among them were future Australian rugby legends George Gregan, John Eales, David Wilson, Matthew Burke, Tim Horan, and Joe Roff — players who would form the core of the Wallabies' 1999 World Cup-winning side. They proved too strong for the Romanians, who conceded six tries in a 42–3 defeat, with flying wing Joe Roff scoring twice.
One of the tournament's best matches took place at Loftus Versfeld between France and Scotland. Dubbed 'The Eliminator', the clash carried high stakes: the loser would face the formidable All Blacks in the quarter-final.
The match had the intensity of a knockout fixture and was only decided in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The Scots had been leading 19–15 and were desperate for referee Wayne Erickson to blow the final whistle — only for French wing Émile Ntamack to score after a prolonged siege in the Scottish 22.
It was the final movement of the match. Scottish hearts were broken, but they had missed their chances earlier. The usually reliable goal-kicker Gavin Hastings endured a nightmare with the boot, a stark contrast to the precision of French centre Thierry Lacroix.
It was a brutal contest between the Six Nations rivals — France's Philippe Benetton (No 8) and scrum-half Guy Accoceberry both suffered broken arms. France edged it 22–19, with Lacroix kicking five penalties and converting Ntamack's try. Scotland flanker Rob Wainwright scored his side's sole try.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
37 minutes ago
- The Citizen
‘Let's get behind our ladies': Siya Kolisi urges SA to back Bok women at world cup
'Let's get behind our ladies': Siya Kolisi urges SA to back Bok women at world cup Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and assistant coach Mzwandile Stick have called on South Africa to show support to the women's national team as they gear up for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England starting in two weeks' time. The Bok women rallied from a 34–26 defeat to a New Zealand Black Ferns XV side last month to secure an important 41–24 win in Cape Town at the weekend. Coach Swys de Bruin called the result one of the best performances he had seen since he joined the squad more than a year ago, adding it showed they were close to where they wanted to be in their last fixture before the Rugby World Cup. The Bok women will not have it easy in Pool D. Currently ranked 12th, the South Africans take on 25th-ranked Brazil on August 24 before tough fixtures against Italy (seventh) and France (fourth) in the following weeks. Kolisi backs Bok women to reach play-offs The Bok women didn't win a single game in the 2021 tournament. Still, Kolisi backed them to reach the quarter-finals this year. 'We need to get behind them,' Kolisi said. 'Not just us as a team, but the whole of South Africa. It's a big year for them.' Having come from humble beginnings in Zwide township in Gqeberha, he said he could relate to the challenges women's rugby players face in pursuing their dreams amid limited funding and opportunities. 'I don't want to be there only when the game has grown. I want to be there from the beginning, and I want them to know I am there. Because they support us. 'A lot of the girls come from the Eastern Cape and have similar stories to mine. It would be wrong of me to turn a blind eye and act like they don't need our support.' Kolisi and Stick praised the improvement shown in the side in recent months, with Stick adding that much of that had to do with players who had plied their trade overseas, returning home and imparting what they learnt. He also commended World Rugby for allowing the women to play as curtain-raisers to men's fixtures. He said this provided greater exposure than scheduling them separately, which would isolate women's rugby. Bok women's Rugby World Cup fixtures • August 24: Bok women v Brazil at Franklin's Gardens, 15:45 • August 31: Bok women v Italy at Community Stadium, 16:30 • September 7: Bok women v France at Franklin's Gardens, 17:45 This article first appeared in The Citizen. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
Two Springboks who must fire or face the axe
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made it clear that sentimentality will have nothing to do with selection as the team plans and prepares for the squad likely to head to the 2027 World Cup. Already we have seen the likes of Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am and Faf de Klerk cut from the latest squad at the start of the Rugby Championship, with some veterans inevitably needing to make way for the 'next gen' of talent. With this in mind, there is no doubt that two players in particular need to make the most of their opportunities this season if they are to remain in the mix through to 2026 and beyond. Cobus Reinach Even at the age of 35, Reinach has remained in the Springbok picture to date, which is testament to the value that the national coaches clearly believe he offers. However, the fact of the matter is that Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg have made great strides in recent times, and that's without even factoring in other experienced options such as De Klerk and Jaden Hendrikse. When considering that Reinach will be 37 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, though, this really is the season where he needs to prove that age is just a number, especially considering the meteoric rise of Junior Springboks scrumhalf Haashim Pead. Jean-Luc du Preez Make no mistake, this is a big season for Du Preez. At the age of 29 and with 14 Test caps to his name, this is either the point where he pushes on and establishes himself as a fixture in the Springbok team, or continues to be a yo-yo man of sorts who falls in and out of the squad. His versatility to play across the back row is of great value, and with a few No 8s currently unavailable, it's a real opportunity for him to bank some meaningful game-time in that position. If he can prove to be consistently impactful, this could be a real breakthrough season for JLDP. If it's not, it's likely the axe will fall once again. Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls). Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Hanazono Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Edwill van der Merwe (Sharks), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers). 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 Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Bathobele Hlekani signing a positive step for the Lions
Having seen a lot of their best young talent leave the union, the Lions will be relieved to have lured one of the best rising young talents in SA rugby. Whether it is a sign of things to come, or a strange one-off move for the Lions, who are used to seeing their best talent departing for greener pastures, the signing of Junior Springbok star Bathobele Hlekani is a welcome boost for the struggling union. In recent times the Lions have fostered some of the country's best up and coming junior talent, only to see them snapped up by the rest of the 'big four'. Top rising talent who have left the Lions over the past few years include Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka and Jordan Hendrikse, all to the Sharks, Wandisile Simelane, to the Bulls, and Hacjivah Dayimani to the Stormers. So to see one of the brightest young U20 talents making a move up to the Highveld, from the much more fancied Springbok-laden coastal Sharks, is a surprise that many didn't see coming. Hlekani, who is a utility forward that has featured at lock and flank, was a star performer for the Junior Springboks during their recent World Rugby U20 Championship winning campaign, and that has been recognised by the Springbok management. Springbok feel Hlekani, along with two other Junior Bok stars, scrumhalf and soon to be teammate Haashim Pead, and Bulls outside back Cheswill Jooste, were called into the Springbok training squad for the Rugby Championship, to get a feel for the system, even though coach Rassie Erasmus said they wouldn't feature for the Boks this year. Hlekani's burgeoning talent is undeniable and he will add plenty of competition to the Lions' utility forward department. The Lions aren't hurting for loose forwards, boasting some top talent in Francke Horn, Ruan Venter, JC Pretorius, Jarod Cairns, Renzo du Plessis, and Siba Qoma among others, while their lock department also isn't wanting. But Hlekani may believe he has a better chance of getting valuable game time to push his Springbok ambitions at the Lions, rather than at the Sharks, where he would have had to challenge players like Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, the Tshituka brothers Vincent and Emmanuel, Phepsi Buthelezi and Jason Jenkins.
