Latest news with #BattleofBoetErasmus
The South African
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
On this day in 1995: Springboks win first-ever World Cup
On June 24, 1995, the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup in a dramatic 15-12 victory over New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. The win was historic – not just for rugby, but for a country emerging from decades of apartheid. On June 24, 1995, the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup for the first time, beating New Zealand 15-12 in extra time at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The victory came just three years after South Africa returned to international rugby following apartheid-era sporting isolation. The Springboks opened their tournament with a 27-18 win over reigning champions Australia at Newlands, with tries from winger Pieter Hendriks and flyhalf Joel Stransky. They followed that result with pool-stage victories over Romania and Canada to top their group, although the final pool match—dubbed the 'Battle of Boet Erasmus'—turned ugly. Hooker James Dalton was sent off during a mass brawl against Canada, and Hendriks later received a suspension. Chester Williams replaced Hendriks for the quarter-final against Samoa and made an immediate impact, scoring four tries in a 42-14 win at Ellis Park. The match proved costly, with several players picking up injuries, including fullback Andre Joubert, who fractured his hand. Despite his injury, Joubert returned for the semi-final in Durban against France—a match nearly postponed due to torrential rain. In difficult conditions, the Springboks controlled territory and managed a 19-15 win. Stransky contributed 14 points with the boot, while the Springboks' forwards contained the French pack in the wet. In the other semi-final, the All Blacks comfortably beat England 45-29 at Newlands, with winger Jonah Lomu scoring four tries in a dominant performance. Lomu's pace and power became the central focus ahead of the final, where he was expected to be the deciding factor. The final kicked off at a packed Ellis Park, with both teams opting for tactical, physical rugby. South Africa's game plan focused on shutting down Lomu early, with Joost van der Westhuizen and James Small combining to tackle the winger repeatedly and limit his impact. Stransky and New Zealand's Andrew Mehrtens exchanged penalties throughout the match, with the score tied 9-9 at full time. The game moved into extra time, where both teams added one penalty each to stay level at 12-12. With just over 10 minutes left in the second period of extra time, Stransky received the ball in space and kicked a clean drop goal from 30 metres out. That kick gave the Springboks a 15-12 lead, which they held until the final whistle. After the final whistle, President Nelson Mandela walked onto the field wearing a Springbok jersey bearing captain Francois Pienaar's No 6. He handed the Webb Ellis Cup to Pienaar in front of a full stadium and a global television audience. The win marked the Springboks' first Rugby World Cup title and their return to the global sporting stage. It was also the first time a host nation had won the tournament since the inaugural event in 1987. The 1995 final remains one of rugby's most memorable matches—defined by disciplined defence, tactical kicking, and a decisive moment in extra time. 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.
IOL News
15-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Rugby World Cup 1995 I Mark Andrews' two weeks of torment as Springboks closed in on maiden World Cup victory
On the night of the '95 World Cup final, Mark Andrews confined himself to his hotel room with a bottle of champagne, too shattered to move. Within a week he had pneumonia and was too ill to take part in the countrywide celebration tour with his teammates. Photo: Tony McDonough On the night of the '95 World Cup final, Mark Andrews confined himself to his hotel room with a bottle of champagne, too shattered to move. Within a week he had pneumonia and was too ill to take part in the countrywide celebration tour with his teammates. Photo: Tony McDonough The stress of the last fortnight of the World Cup, which had seen him make the seismic shift from his confident role in the second row to unfamiliar No 8, had exhausted him. Within a week, he had pneumonia and was too ill to participate in the countrywide celebration tour. I asked Mark Andrews what he recalled about that tense period for the Rainbow Nation. He said by the end of it, he was completely shattered. On the night of the final, while South Africa partied long and hard, Andrews confined himself to his hotel room with a bottle of champagne, too worn out to move. Thirty years ago this week, the 1995 World Cup entered its last fortnight, with semi-finals between South Africa and France, and New Zealand and England, and the final between the Boks and the All Blacks. The pressure on the Boks to deliver was off the scale, and recapturing the mood of that time is fascinating. Three decades later, Andrews explained: 'So I am 22 years old, still fairly new to Test rugby, and the day before the final against the All Blacks we are on the bus going to Ellis Park for our last practice and the newspaper posters on the lampposts are screaming: 'Will Andrews cost us the World Cup?'' The excruciating pressure on Andrews had started the week before, in the semi-final against France. Coach Kitch Christie had had a selection quandary. Hannes Strydom had recovered from an eye socket injury - courtesy of the Battle of Boet Erasmus and Kitch, who wanted to play him with Kobus Wiese in the second row, but Andrews was too good to be dropped. And moving him to No 8 (for Rudolf Straeuli) would also give him an extra lineout option and more weight in the scrum. The pressure on Andrews was exacerbated by the freakishly heavy downpour that struck Durban on the day of the game. The match was almost called off because of the genuine risk of front row players half-drowning in the deep pools of water in the event of a collapsed scrum. 'Before the France semi-final, I was terrified. That is the truth,' Andrews says. 'I'd be playing No 8 for the first time since Under-13 at school, and I was opposite Abdelatif Benazzi, the best No 8 in the world. 'I was so nervous I kept going on walkabouts during that rain delay. I will never forget a discussion I overheard. I had strayed around the corner to the area at Kings Park reserved for the referee, and he (Derek Bevan) was in a heated discussion with the World Rugby chairman, and (Sarfu president) Louis Luyt. 'We knew that if the game didn't go ahead, we were out of the World Cup because of our inferior disciplinary record. And here I was eavesdropping on Louis laying down the law: 'Gentlemen, understand me, there is no debate about cancelling this game. It will go ahead even if it is at midnight. Get that into your heads. There will be a riot in this country if this game does not happen.' 'I remember thinking: 'Jeepers, I am glad he is on our side.' Louis was an intimidating guy and he steamrolled everyone. Louis' personality saved us from a World Cup exit.' Andrews played well and was retained at No 8 for the final, where he acquitted himself admirably. So let's cut to the final whistle... 'I was overwhelmed when the whistle went. The pressure over that last fortnight had been immense. I had gone into that World Cup believing I was one of the best locks in the world and I wanted to prove myself against the best locks. Had I stayed at lock I would have been in my element. Instead, it was the most stressful period of my career. 'The atmosphere in our change room was weird. We just sat there holding our juice bottles. We could not move a muscle and had nothing to say. We were totally drained. If a stranger had walked in, he would have thought we had lost. 'But I will never forget leaving Ellis Park in the bus with the cup, we must have had 20 police cars and bikes surrounding us on the highway back to Sandton. There was a convoy of cars behind us with fans hanging out windows, waving flags and hooting. 'We were being chased! It was like a movie scene. And when we arrived, there were these armoured cars and police with interlinked arms trying to create space for us to get into the hotel. 'It only sank in then what we had achieved. But emotionally and physically, I was broken. I could not take any more...' Mike Greenaway is the author of the best-selling books The Fireside Springbok and Bok to Bok.
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
On this day: All Blacks annihilate Japan in record-breaking rout
Ireland's Eric Elwood slotted the winning penalty in their 24-23 win over Wales on this day at the Rugby World Cup 1995. Photo: AFP Image: AFP If the previous day saw the Battle of Boet Erasmus in Gqeberha between the Springboks and Canada, then June 4 witnessed the "Massacre of Free State Stadium". Japan, competing in their third World Cup in 1995, were not expected to trouble New Zealand in their Pool C clash in Bloemfontein, despite given a good account of themselves in a 50–28 loss to Ireland in their previous match. Nonetheless, no one expected the destruction that would be unleashed on them in a result that still holds several records today. Rugby World Cup 1995 | In retrospective Image: Independent Media 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Remarkably, it was very much an All Blacks B-team, captained by flanker Paul Henderson, selected to face the Brave Blossoms on a sunny winter's day in the Free State. Of the starting XV that would contest the final on 24 June, only prop Craig Dowd, brothers Robin and Zinzan Brooke, and outside backs Jeff Wilson and Glen Osborne featured in the match. What followed was a 21-try, 145–17 rout, with the match described as more of a training run for the Kiwis than a proper Test. It remains the highest aggregate points scored (162), the most total tries (23), and the most conversions (22) – not only in Rugby World Cup history but in any Test match. The 145 points scored by the All Blacks remains the most by a team in a Test. Surprisingly, the game does not hold the record for the biggest winning margin – that unwanted distinction belongs to Uruguay, who lost 142–0 to Australia eight years later. New Zealand fly-half Simon Culhane's 45-point haul – consisting of one try and 20 conversions – remains the highest individual total in a Test match and the most points scored on international debut. The six tries scored by centre Marc Ellis also remain the most in a Rugby World Cup match. The result was a significant setback for Japanese rugby, stalling their development for several years. It would take nearly two decades – culminating in the 'Miracle in Brighton' when they beat South Africa in 2015 – to erase the memory of this horror show. For the All Blacks, it only enhanced their aura and solidified their status as favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
IOL News
03-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Rugby World Cup 1995 I On this day: Tragedy, triumph and turmoil in dramatic third round
Former Springbok James Dalton was one of several players sent off during the Battle of Boet Erasmus on this day at the Rugby World Cup 1995. Photo: AFP 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.
IOL News
03-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Canadians cause a riot against Springboks in Battle of Boet Erasmus II
The big winner of the Battle of Boet Erasmus at the Rugby World Cup 1995 between the Springboks and Canada, was Chester Williams, who did not even play in the clash. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Those who were there swear there was something sinister simmering in the air above Algoa Bay the night the Springboks hosted Canada in a Pool A match at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Older fans would later say they had experienced the same combative atmosphere on July 13, 1974, when the original Battle of Boet Erasmus took place. That was the infamous third Test between the British Lions and a desperate Springbok. At week earlier, at Loftus Versfeld, the Boks had suffered a record 28–9 humiliation and arrived at Boet Erasmus Stadium in a savage mood. But the wily Lions knew what was coming and had devised a call to arms they named '99'. Rugby World Cup 1995 | In retrospective Image: Independent Media 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading When captain Willie John McBride sensed extreme hostility, he would scream '99' and each Lion would punch the nearest Springbok. McBride reasoned that if all 15 Lions were simultaneously brawling, it would be impossible for the referee to send anyone off. The Lions won the fight and the rugby, and the Boks fared only marginally better than in Pretoria, losing 26–9. In 1995, a contributing factor to the incendiary atmosphere was the late kick-off at 7.45pm. It had been a long time since Gqeberha had hosted a Test match, and the excited locals had all day to imbibe in the throbbing beachfront pubs, before they partied up the road to nearby Boet Erasmus Stadium – a ramshackle cauldron where rusty old railway carriages presided atop the openside stand. The volatile expectancy was ramped up when the lights failed as the teams lined up for the national anthems. The 31 000 spectators thronged to the stadium pubs once more. Also pre-match, there had been the curious sight of SA Rugby Football Union CEO Edward Griffiths personally threading his way across that boisterous openside stand to implore holders of the old South African flag to lower their colours. Some did; others mocked him. The teams retreated to their changing rooms when the lights failed. The Canadians continued to whip themselves into a frenzy. That week, captain Gareth Rees had said: 'We're not a particularly good side, but through physical confrontation, we're hoping to set up a battle that we can win. "Nothing illegal … Just good old confrontational rugby that can win or lose you the game.' In fact, Canada were a relatively good side — Rees was an accomplished flyhalf; their Western Province centre Christian Stewart would later play for the Boks; while Rod Snow and Al Charron were among the best tight forwards in Welsh club rugby. But the Canadians knew they could not beat the Boks in a fair exchange. Former Canada captain Gareth Rees. Photo: AFP Image: AFP When the game eventually kicked off, just before 9pm, the Canadians set out to niggle, annoy, and unsettle — an elbow here, a jersey tug there, hidden punches in the rucks, and plenty of inflammatory chatter. This match was the Boks' third game of the World Cup. They had gloriously beaten defending champions Australia in the opening match and taken care of Romania with a B-side. Discipline had been a non-negotiable cornerstone of the Boks' campaign under ultra-strict coach Kitch Christie, and in the first half, the Boks literally rolled with the punches and maintained their focus on getting the result that would secure them a quarter-final. After all, if they had lost to Canada, there was a mathematical chance they would not make the play-offs. The Boks comfortably led 17–0 at half-time, but the only further score in the match would be a Joel Stransky penalty early in the second half. The game lost shape as the niggling intensified, and the powder keg was ignited when Canada wing Winston Stanley, hurtling down the touchline, was clattered into the advertising boards by an over-exuberant Pieter Hendriks. All hell broke loose when Stanley got up and tried to throttle Hendriks. Players flew in like missiles, and among them — perhaps inevitably — was James 'Bullet' Dalton. At that time, the law emphasised that the third party arriving with hostile intent at a tussle, had to be heavily penalised. Referee David McHugh incorrectly identified Dalton as the third arrival, when replays clearly showed it was Canadian fullback Scott Stewart who had escalated the situation. Virtually every player on the field traded blows, but it was the unfortunate Dalton who was sent off by McHugh, along with Rees and Snow. Dalton, for once in his life, was innocent. He never threw a punch and was injudiciously banned from the rest of the tournament. The great fear was that if the Boks' semi-final against France had been rained off — and it very nearly was — they would have been out of the World Cup because Les Bleus had the better disciplinary record.
