Mandela, Lomu and a Rugby World Cup final that went beyond sport

On a lovely Saturday afternoon, specifically on the 24th of June in 1995, New Zealand and South Africa both entered the Ellis Park tunnel and onto the field in Johannesburg to play rugby. One team was wearing all black uniforms, while the other had green, gold, and white clothing. No one could have anticipated that it would take 28 years before these two formidable opponents would come face-to-face again, this time in a World Cup final.

On Saturday in Paris, the teams of All Black and Springbok will come out onto the field at Stade de France. It's important to note that both countries they represent have won the World Cup three times. When the next tournament starts in 2027, either New Zealand or South Africa will have held onto the World Cup for 24 years straight.

The final match of 1995 had a significance beyond just sports. It felt like a significant moment in history. Holding a World Cup final in the new South Africa, with Nelson Mandela as a free man, gave a sense of new hope. It marked the end of apartheid, with rugby as the final area to surrender.

For many years, people labelled President Mandela as a terrorist, but on this occasion, he walked onto the pitch following the players. Unlike a typical politician, Mandela dressed in a way that suited the event. He put on a Springbok shirt with the number 6 written on the back - a shirt that Francois Pienaar, the Afrikaans captain of South Africa, had gifted to him. Mandela, who was 76 years old at that time, grinned and removed his Springbok hat as he walked.

As a person from South Africa, I experienced life during apartheid and witnessed the 27-year imprisonment of Mandela. Therefore, it was a very emotional moment for me to hear the loud and powerful chant of "Nelson...Nelson...Nelson..." that filled the air.

The leader of New Zealand, Sean Fitzpatrick, walked with Mandela among the All Blacks. Mandela stopped when they reached Jonah Lomu, a towering athlete who weighed 18 stone and possessed unstoppable strength. Mandela spoke to Lomu, declaring him as the special one. Lomu, only 20 years old, humbly nodded. He had demolished every team he played against in the World Cup, skyrocketing to fame as rugby's first global sensation. His renown spread even to countries where rugby was not a popular sport.

Mandela was having a great time and while he stayed, Lomu tensed the muscles in his neck to show he was eager to make his first powerful hit during the game.

I befriended James Small, the former Springbok winger who famously defended against Lomu during a game. Small was an enthusiast of boxing and the novels of Edward Bunker. During a conversation in 1997, he revealed that the atmosphere before the final was unsettling. While on the bus to the venue, he listened to "Hymn of the Big Wheel" by Massive Attack on his Walkman. The song had a soothing melody and featured the high-pitched voice of beloved Jamaican singer, Horace Andy, repeating the line "and the big wheel keeps on turning" multiple times.

As I looked around, I saw a group of individuals making their way towards the field, holding the newly designed flag and posters with the message, "Lomu, we have a slight dilemma." I felt a chill run down my spine as the atmosphere became intense. Right before the match began, Chester Williams, who was the only player of color from South Africa, uttered these words, "James, you keep him at bay while the rest of us bring him down."

On the field, Mandela came to a halt before Small. He gave him a interested grin that was both gentle and serious. Small recounted to me, "Then, Mandela giggled. He appeared to be thinking: 'Oh dear! This unfortunate individual is responsible for keeping an eye on Lomu.' Mandela grasped my hand and declared, 'You have quite the task ahead of you today, Mr. Small.'"

The match wasn't very exciting, but still managed to captivate our attention. It had a strong hold over us, to the point where we had to remind ourselves to breathe. Lomu was struggling to make progress, continuously being tackled by the opposing team.

The commentators shouted with such intensity that it seemed as though the great boxing legend Muhammad Ali had just been knocked out. They were referring to Lomu who had fallen.

There were no tries scored during the game, and when the game clock hit zero, the rival teams were tied with 9 points each. Just before the start of extra time, the mostly Caucasian audience united with a black choir that was performing on the sidelines. The song Shosholoza, a piece traditionally sung by black laborers, was adopted as a rugby anthem for South Africa.

Pienaar and his team, the Springboks, stood up and formed a circle around their captain, who encouraged them to give their best for the remaining 20 minutes. In the meantime, the song "Shosholoza" continued to reverberate, giving the impression that a single song and a single game of rugby had the power to bring about a transformative change.

Even though the teams were worn out and tied at 12-12, they differed in one important aspect. New Zealand had a better track record for following rules and regulations, and if the score remained the same, they would emerge as the winners of the World Cup.

Right before the conclusion of the match, Joost van der Westhuizen gave the ball to Joel Stransky. Despite being approached by the All Blacks, Stransky decided to go for a drop goal. As the ball ascended in a spiral motion, we also rose from our seats. We were midway in the air as the ball successfully made its way through the topmost part of the poles.

"There's no hope left," a shattered voice wailed. "There's no hope left."

At last, the match came to an end with South Africa winning 15-12. Pienaar was crouched down, holding his nose tightly as if trying to hold back his emotions.

Before presenting the trophy, Mandela, who served as a role model and peacemaker for the nation, had a conversation with Pienaar. Mandela expressed his gratitude by saying, "Thank you for your contribution to South Africa." Pienaar, in return, gazed at his senior leader and acknowledged, "We could never achieve what you have done for our country."

Afterwards, Pienaar hoisted up the World Cup with his eyes shut and his arms outstretched. Mandela joyfully waved his arms around in excitement.

During an interview, the captain of the Springboks was inquired about the "amazing" support that their team received from 65,000 fans. Pienaar rejected this notion and responded with a shake of his head, acknowledging that they had the support of 43 million South Africans on that day.

Presently, after a span of 28 years, New Zealand and South Africa are once again face-to-face in a renewed rivalry. Mandela, Lomu, and Small have passed away. Also, some of the Springboks from that historic final, including Van der Westhuizen, Williams, and Ruben Kruger have left us.

The current state of the world seems vastly different and more perilous. However, South Africa, the current world champions, have a remarkable black captain in Siya Kolisi and a team that fully embodies every facet of their diverse and multifaceted nation. Despite this, the All Blacks still possess their incredible aura. As a result, South Africa and New Zealand will once again play against each other in Paris, as the cycle of events continues to unfold.