1995 Rugby World Cup

{{main article|1995 Rugby World Cup qualifying}}

The eight quarter-finalists from the 1991 Rugby World Cup all received automatic entry, as did South Africa, as hosts. The remaining seven of the 16 positions available in the tournament were filled by regional qualifiers. The qualifying tournaments were broken up into regional associations: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Côte d'Ivoire qualified through Africa, Japan through Asia, Argentina through the Americas, Italy, Romania and Wales through Europe, Tonga through Oceania.

{{main article|1995 Rugby World Cup squads}}

{{columns-list|

• {{flagicon|ARG}} Efraim Sklar
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Barry Leask
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Wayne Erickson
• {{flagicon|CAN}} George Gadjovich
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Ed Morrison
• {{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Lander
• {{flagicon|FRA|1974}} Joël Dumé
• {{flagicon|FRA|1974}} Patrick Robin
• {{Flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} David McHugh
• {{Flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} Stephen Hilditch
• {{flagicon|JPN|1947}} Naoki Saito
• {{flagicon|KOR|1984}} Han Moon-soo
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Colin Hawke
• {{flagicon|NZL}} Dave Bishop
• {{flagicon|RSA}} Stef Neethling
• {{flagicon|RSA}} Ian Rogers
• {{flagicon|SAM}} Felise Vito
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Jim Fleming
• {{flagicon|SCO}} Ken McCartney
• {{flagicon|USA}} Don Reordan
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Derek Bevan
• {{flagicon|WAL}} Clayton Thomas

}}

The 1995 tournament was the first Rugby World Cup to be hosted by just one country, and thus, all the venues are within the one country. South Africa were given the rights to host the tournament in 1993, after a meeting between the IRB and both the government led by F. W. de Klerk and the African National Congress.{{cite book |last1=Carlin |first1=John |title=Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation |date=14 August 2008 |publisher=Penguin Press |isbn=978-1594201745 |page=113}} In total, nine stadiums were used for the World Cup, most being owned by local municipalities, and the majority of the venues were upgraded prior to the tournament. Six of the nine stadiums were South African Test grounds. The four largest stadiums were used for the finals, with the final taking place at Johannesburg's Ellis Park.

There were games originally scheduled to have been played in Brakpan, Germiston, Pietermaritzburg and Witbank, but these games were reallocated to other venues. This reduced the number of venues from 14 to 9. The reasons cited for this change had to do with facilities for both the press and spectators, as well as the security. The change in the itinerary occurred in January 1994. Further changes occurred in April, so that evening games were played at stadiums with good floodlighting. It is also thought that Potchefstroom was an original venue.

Venues were paired:

• Pool 1: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Stellenbosch
• Pool 2: Durban and East London
• Pool 3: Johannesburg and Bloemfontein
• Pool 4: Pretoria and Rustenburg

{{Clear}}

The tournament was contested by 16 nations using the same format that was used in 1987 and 1991 and in total 32 matches were played. The competition began on 25 May, when the hosts South Africa defeated Australia 27–18 at Newlands in Cape Town. The tournament culminated with the final between South Africa and the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 24 June. In total, the tournament ran for thirty days. The nations were broken up into four pools of four, with each pool consisting of two teams that were automatically qualified and two that went through the qualifying tournaments.

The points system that was used in the pool stage was unchanged from 1991:

• 3 points for a win
• 2 points for a draw
• 1 point for playing

Pool winners were drawn against opposite pool runners-up in the quarter-finals. For example, the winner of A faces the runner up of B, and the winner of B face the runner-up of A. The whole finals stage adopts a knock-out format, and the winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals, where winner 1 faces winner 2, and winner 3 faces winner 4. The winners advance to the final, and the losers contest a third/fourth place play-off two days before the final.

A total of 32 matches (24 pool stage & 8 knock-out) were played throughout the tournament over 30 days from 25 May to 24 June 1995.

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|for_against_style = points

|winpoints=3|drawpoints=2|losspoints=1

|team1=RSA|name_RSA={{ru|RSA}}

|team2=AUS|name_AUS={{ru|AUS}}

|team3=CAN|name_CAN={{ru|CAN}}

|team4=ROU|name_ROU={{ru|ROU}}

|win_RSA=3|draw_RSA=0|loss_RSA=0|pf_RSA=68|pa_RSA=26

|win_AUS=2|draw_AUS=0|loss_AUS=1|pf_AUS=87|pa_AUS=41

|win_CAN=1|draw_CAN=0|loss_CAN=2|pf_CAN=45|pa_CAN=50

|win_ROU=0|draw_ROU=0|loss_ROU=3|pf_ROU=14|pa_ROU=97

|col_A=#cfc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A

|update=complete|source={{Cite news |date=2003-09-25 |title=1995 (South Africa) |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2964547.stm |access-date=2023-10-16}}

}}

{{rugbybox

|date=25 May 1995

|report=[http://en.espn.co.uk/2011-rugby-world-cup/rugby/match/22933.html Report]

|home={{ru-rt|RSA}}

|score=27–18

|away={{ru|AUS}}

|try1=Hendriks 37' m
Stransky 63' c

|con1=Stransky (1/2) 64'

|pen1=Stransky (4/4) 5', 21', 29', 45'

|drop1=Stransky (1/3) 49'

|try2=Lynagh 33' c
Kearns 78' m

|con2=Lynagh (1/2) 34'

|pen2=Lynagh (2/3) 3', 17'

|stadium=Newlands, Cape Town

|attendance=44,778

|referee=Derek Bevan (Wales)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=26 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|CAN}}

|score=34–3

|away={{ru|ROU}}

|try1=Charron
McKenzie
Snow

|con1=Rees (2)

|pen1=Rees (4)

|drop1=Rees

|pen2=Nichitean

|stadium=Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth

|attendance=8,000

|referee=Colin Hawke (New Zealand)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=30 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|RSA}}

|score=21–8

|away={{ru|ROU}}

|try1=Richter (2)

|con1=Johnson

|pen1=Johnson (3)

|try2=Gurănescu

|pen2=Ivanciuc

|stadium=Newlands, Cape Town

|attendance=45,000

|referee=Ken McCartney (Scotland)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=31 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|AUS}}

|score=27–11

|away={{ru|CAN}}

|try1=Lynagh
Tabua
Roff

|con1=Lynagh (3)

|pen1=Lynagh (2)

|try2=Charron

|pen2=Rees (2)

|stadium=Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth

|attendance=16,000

|referee=Patrick Robin (France)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=3 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|AUS}}

|score=42–3

|away={{ru|ROU}}

|try1=Smith
Wilson
Roff (2)
Foley
Burke

|con1=Burke (2)
Eales (4)

|pen2=Ivanciuc

|stadium=Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch

|attendance=15,542

|referee=Naoki Saito (Japan)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=3 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|RSA}}

|score=20–0

|away={{ru|CAN}}

|try1=Richter (2)

|con1=Stransky (2)

|pen1=Stransky (2)

|stadium=Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth

|attendance=31,000

|referee=David McHugh (Ireland)

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|for_against_style = points

|winpoints=3|drawpoints=2|losspoints=1

|team1=ENG|name_ENG={{ru|ENG}}

|team2=SAM|name_SAM={{ru|SAM|name=Western Samoa}}

|team3=ITA|name_ITA={{ru|ITA}}

|team4=ARG|name_ARG={{ru|ARG}}

|win_ENG=3|draw_ENG=0|loss_ENG=0|pf_ENG=95|pa_ENG=60

|win_SAM=2|draw_SAM=0|loss_SAM=1|pf_SAM=96|pa_SAM=88

|win_ITA=1|draw_ITA=0|loss_ITA=2|pf_ITA=69|pa_ITA=94

|win_ARG=0|draw_ARG=0|loss_ARG=3|pf_ARG=69|pa_ARG=87

|col_A=#cfc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{rugbybox

|date=27 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|ITA}}

|score=18–42

|report=[http://www.worldrugby.org/match/2125 Report]

|away={{ru|SAM|name=Western Samoa}}

|try1=Vaccari
Cuttitta

|con1=Dominguez

|pen1=Dominguez

|drop1=Dominguez

|try2=Lima (2)
Harder (2)
Kellett
Tatupu

|con2=Kellett (3)

|pen2=Kellett (2)

|stadium=Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London

|attendance=7,868

|referee=Joël Dume (France)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=27 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|ARG}}

|score=18–24

|away={{ru|ENG}}

|try1=Arbizu
Noriega

|con1=Arbizu

|pen1=Arbizu (2)

|pen2=Andrew (6)

|drop2=Andrew (2)

|stadium=Kings Park Stadium, Durban

|attendance=35,000

|referee=Jim Fleming (Scotland)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=30 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|SAM|name=Western Samoa}}

|score=32–26

|away={{ru|ARG}}

|try1=Lam
Leaupepe
Harder

|con1=Kellett

|pen1=Kellett (5)

|try2=Penalty try
Crexell

|con2=Cilley (2)

|pen2=Cilley (4)

|stadium=Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London

|attendance=7,960

|referee=Dave Bishop (New Zealand)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=31 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|ENG}}

|score=27–20

|away={{ru|ITA}}

|try1=R. Underwood
T. Underwood

|con1=Andrew

|pen1=Andrew (5)

|try2=Cuttitta
Vaccari

|con2=Dominguez (2)

|pen2=Dominguez (2)

|stadium=Kings Park Stadium, Durban

|attendance=45,093

|referee=Stephen Hilditch (Ireland)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=4 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|ARG}}

|score=25–31

|away={{ru|ITA}}

|try1=Martín
Penalty try
Corral
Cilley

|con1=Cilley

|pen1=Cilley

|try2=Vaccari
Gerosa
Dominguez

|con2=Dominguez (2)

|pen2=Dominguez (4)

|stadium=Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London

|attendance=7,571

|referee=Clayton Thomas (Wales)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=4 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|ENG}}

|score=44–22

|away={{ru|SAM|name=Western Samoa}}

|try1=R. Underwood (2)
Back
Penalty try

|con1=Callard (3)

|pen1=Callard(5)

|drop1=Catt

|try2=Sini (2)
Umaga

|con2=Fa'amasino (2)

|pen2=Fa'amasino

|stadium=Kings Park Stadium, Durban

|attendance=35,000

|referee=Patrick Robin (France)

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|for_against_style = points

|winpoints=3|drawpoints=2|losspoints=1

|team1=NZL|name_NZL={{ru|NZL}}

|team2=IRE|name_IRE={{Ru|IRE}}

|team3=WAL|name_WAL={{ru|WAL}}

|team4=JPN|name_JPN={{ru|JPN|1947}}

|win_NZL=3|draw_NZL=0|loss_NZL=0|pf_NZL=222|pa_NZL=45

|win_IRE=2|draw_IRE=0|loss_IRE=1|pf_IRE=93|pa_IRE=94

|win_WAL=1|draw_WAL=0|loss_WAL=2|pf_WAL=89|pa_WAL=68

|win_JPN=0|draw_JPN=0|loss_JPN=3|pf_JPN=55|pa_JPN=252

|col_A=#cfc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{rugbybox

|date=27 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|JPN|1947}}

|score=10–57

|away={{ru|WAL}}

|try1=Ota (2)

|try2=G. Thomas (3)
I. Evans (2)
Moore
Taylor

|con2=N. Jenkins (5)

|pen2=N. Jenkins (4)

|stadium=Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

|attendance=15,000

|referee=Efrahim Sklar (Argentina)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=27 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|IRE}}

|score=19–43

|away={{ru|NZL}}

|try1=Corkery
McBride
Halpin

|con1=Elwood (2)

|try2=Lomu (2)
Kronfeld
Bunce
Osborne

|con2=Mehrtens (3)

|pen2=Mehrtens (4)

|stadium=Ellis Park, Johannesburg

|attendance=38,000

|referee=Wayne Erickson (Australia)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=31 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|IRE}}

|score=50–28

|away={{ru|JPN|1947}}

|try1=Francis
Geoghegan
Corkery
Halvey
Hogan
Penalty try (2)

|con1=Burke (6)

|pen1=Burke

|try2=Latu
Izawa
Hirao
Takura

|con2=Yoshida (4)

|stadium=Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

|attendance=15,000

|referee=Stef Neethling (South Africa)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=31 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|NZL}}

|score=34–9

|away={{ru|WAL}}

|try1=Ellis
Little
Kronfeld

|con1=Mehrtens (2)

|pen1=Mehrtens (4)

|drop1=Mehrtens

|pen2=N. Jenkins (2)

|drop2=N. Jenkins

|stadium=Ellis Park, Johannesburg

|attendance=45,000

|referee=Ed Morrison (England)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=4 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|JPN|1947}}

|score=17–145

|report=[http://www.worldrugby.org/match/2130 Report]

|away={{ru|NZL}}

|try1=Kajihara (2)

|con1=Hirose (2)

|pen1=Hirose

|try2=Ellis (6)
Rush (3)
Wilson (3)
R. Brooke (2)
Osborne (2)
Loe
Culhane
Henderson
Dowd
Ieremia

|con2=Culhane (20)

|stadium=Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

|attendance=25,000

|referee=George Gadjovic (Canada)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=4 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|IRE}}

|score=24–23

|away={{ru|WAL}}

|try1=Halvey
Popplewell
McBride

|con1=Elwood (3)

|pen1=Elwood

|try2=Humphreys
Taylor

|con2=N. Jenkins (2)

|pen2=N. Jenkins (2)

|drop2=A. Davies

|stadium=Ellis Park, Johannesburg

|attendance=40,000

|referee=Ian Rogers (South Africa)

}}

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=Q

|for_against_style = points

|winpoints=3|drawpoints=2|losspoints=1

|team1=FRA|name_FRA={{ru|FRA|1974}}

|team2=SCO|name_SCO={{ru|SCO}}

|team3=TGA|name_TGA={{ru|TGA}}

|team4=CIV|name_CIV={{ru|CIV}}

|win_FRA=3|draw_FRA=0|loss_FRA=0|pf_FRA=114|pa_FRA=47

|win_SCO=2|draw_SCO=0|loss_SCO=1|pf_SCO=149|pa_SCO=27

|win_TGA=1|draw_TGA=0|loss_TGA=2|pf_TGA=44|pa_TGA=90

|win_CIV=0|draw_CIV=0|loss_CIV=3|pf_CIV=29|pa_CIV=172

|col_A=#cfc|text_A=

|result1=A|result2=A

|update=complete|source=

}}

{{rugbybox

|date=26 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|CIV}}

|score=0–89

|away={{ru|SCO}}

|try2=G. Hastings (4)
Logan (2)
Walton (2)
Wright
Chalmers
Stanger
Burnell
Shiel

|con2=G. Hastings (9)

|pen2=G. Hastings (2)

|stadium=Olympia Park, Rustenburg

|attendance=20,000

|referee=Felise Vito (Western Samoa)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=26 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|FRA|1974}}

|score=38–10

|away={{ru|TGA}}

|try1=Lacroix (2)
Hueber
Saint-André

|con1=Lacroix (3)

|pen1=Lacroix (3)

|drop1=Delaigue

|try2=Vaʻenuku

|con2=Tu'ipulotu

|pen2=Tu'ipulotu

|stadium=Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

|attendance=22,000

|referee=Steve Lander (England)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=29 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|FRA|1974}}

|score=54–18

|away={{ru|CIV}}

|try1=Lacroix (2)
Benazzi
Téchoueyres
Viars
Accoceberry
Saint-André
Costes

|con1=Deylaud (2)
Lacroix (2)

|pen1=Lacroix (2)

|try2=Soulama
Camara

|con2=Kouassi

|pen2=Kouassi (2)

|stadium=Olympia Park, Rustenburg

|attendance=10,000

|referee=Han Moon-Soo (South Korea)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=29 May 1995

|home={{ru-rt|SCO}}

|score=41–5

|away={{ru|TGA}}

|try1=S. Hastings
Peters
G. Hastings

|con1=G. Hastings

|pen1=G. Hastings (8)

|try2=Fenukitau

|stadium=Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

|attendance=21,000

|referee=Barry Leask (Australia)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=3 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|CIV}}

|score=11–29

|away={{ru|TGA}}

|try1=Okou

|pen1=Dali (2)

|try2=Penalty try
Latukefu
Otai
Tu'ipulotu

|con2=Tu'ipulotu (3)

|pen2=Tu'ipulotu

|stadium=Olympia Park, Rustenburg

|attendance=15,000

|referee=Don Reordan (United States)

}}

Three minutes into the match between Ivory Coast and Tonga, the Ivorian winger Max Brito was crushed beneath several other players, leaving him paralysed below the neck.{{cite news |title=Max Brito at end of tether after 12-year struggle|first=Pirate |last=Irwin|newspaper=Mail & Guardian|date=4 October 2007|url=http://www.mg.co.za/article/2007-10-04-max-brito-at-end-of-tether-after-12year-struggle |access-date=9 January 2010}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=3 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|FRA|1974}}

|score=22–19

|away={{ru|SCO}}

|try1=Ntamack

|con1=Lacroix

|pen1=Lacroix (5)

|try2=Wainwright

|con2=G. Hastings

|pen2=G. Hastings (4)

|stadium=Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

|attendance=39,000

|referee=Wayne Erickson (Australia)

}}

{{Round8-with third

|10 June – Johannesburg|{{ru|RSA}}|42|{{ru|SAM|name=Western Samoa}}|14

|10 June – Durban|{{ru|FRA|1974}}|36|{{Ru|IRE}} |12

|11 June – Cape Town|{{ru|ENG}}|25|{{ru|AUS}}|22

|11 June – Pretoria|{{ru|NZL}}|48|{{ru|SCO}}|30

|17 June – Durban|{{ru|RSA}}|19|{{ru|FRA|1974}}|15

|18 June – Cape Town|{{ru|ENG}}|29|{{ru|NZL}}|45

|24 June – Johannesburg|{{ru|RSA}} (a.e.t.)|15|{{ru|NZL}}|12

|22 June – Pretoria|{{ru|FRA|1974}}|19|{{ru|ENG}}|9

}}

{{rugbybox

|date=10 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|FRA|1974}}

|score=36–12

|report=[https://www.world.rugby/match/2118 Report]

|away={{Ru|IRE}}

|try1=Saint-André 79' c
Ntamack 80' m

|con1=Lacroix (1/2) 80'

|pen1=Lacroix (8) 7', 19', 30', 40', 49', 51', 71', 73'

|pen2=Elwood (4) 4', 15', 23', 39'

|stadium=Kings Park Stadium, Durban

|attendance=20,000

|referee=Ed Morrison (England)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=10 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|RSA}}

|score=42–14

|away={{ru|SAM|name=Western Samoa}}

|try1=Williams (4)
Rossouw
Andrews

|con1=Johnson (3)

|pen1=Johnson (2)

|try2=Tatupu
Nu'uali'itia

|con2=Fa'amasino (2)

|stadium=Ellis Park, Johannesburg

|attendance=54,169

|referee=Jim Fleming (Scotland)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=11 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|ENG}}

|score=25–22

|report=[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/3086827.stm Report]

|away={{ru|AUS}}

|try1=T. Underwood

|con1=Andrew

|pen1=Andrew (5)

|drop1=Andrew

|try2=Smith

|con2=Lynagh

|pen2=Lynagh (5)

|stadium=Newlands, Cape Town

|attendance=35,448

|referee=Dave Bishop (New Zealand)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=11 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|NZL}}

|score=48–30

|away={{ru|SCO}}

|report={{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq-6-w2EBLs |title=Rugby World Cup 1995: Quarter Final - New Zealand v Scotland| publisher=World Rugby |website=YouTube.com |date=17 April 2020 |access-date=19 January 2022}}

|try1=Little (2)
Lomu
Mehrtens
Bunce
Fitzpatrick

|con1=Mehrtens (6)

|pen1=Mehrtens (2)

|try2=Weir (2)
S. Hastings

|con2=G. Hastings (3)

|pen2=G. Hastings (3)

|stadium=Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

|attendance=28,000

|referee=Derek Bevan (Wales)

}}

{{rugbybox

|date=17 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|RSA}}

|score=19–15

|away={{ru|FRA|1974}}

|try1=Kruger

|con1=Stransky

|pen1=Stransky (4)

|pen2=Lacroix (5)

|stadium=Kings Park Stadium, Durban

|attendance=49,773

|referee=Derek Bevan (Wales)

}}

----

{{rugbybox

|date=18 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|ENG}}

|score=29–45

|report=[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2965996.stm Report]

|away={{ru|NZL}}

|try1=Carling (2)
R. Underwood (2)

|con1=Andrew (3)

|pen1=Andrew

|try2=Lomu (4)
Kronfeld
Bachop

|con2=Mehrtens (3)

|pen2=Mehrtens

|drop2=Z. Brooke
Mehrtens

|stadium=Newlands, Cape Town

|attendance=43,414

|referee=Stephen Hilditch (Ireland)

}}

{{rugbybox

|date=22 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|FRA|1974}}

|score=19–9

|away={{ru|ENG}}

|try1=Olivier Roumat
Ntamack

|pen1=Lacroix (3)

|pen2=Andrew (3)

|stadium=Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

|attendance=44,000

|referee=Dave Bishop (New Zealand)

}}

{{main article|1995 Rugby World Cup Final}}

The final was contested by New Zealand and hosts South Africa. Both nations finished undefeated at the top of their pools. South Africa defeated Western Samoa in the quarter-finals, and then France in the semi-finals to reach the final; New Zealand defeated Scotland in the quarter-finals, and England in the semi-finals, a game in which Jonah Lomu famously scored four tries for the All Blacks. The final was played at Ellis Park in Johannesburg and refereed by Ed Morrison of England. To this point, New Zealand had led the tournament in production, outscoring their opponents 315–104, while South Africa had outscored their opponents 129–55. The tight Springbok defence would keep the high scoring All Blacks in check – particularly Jonah Lomu and Marc Ellis, who had already scored a then World Cup record seven tries each in the tournament – with neither team scoring a try in the match.

South Africa led 9–6 at half time, and New Zealand levelled the scores at 9–9 with a drop goal in the second half. Though Andrew Mehrtens almost kicked a late drop goal for the All Blacks, the score remained tied at full-time, forcing the game into extra time. Both teams scored penalty goals in the first half of extra time, but Joel Stransky then scored a drop goal to win the final for South Africa.

What happened after the match has become an iconic moment in the history of the sport. Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok rugby jersey and cap, presented the Webb Ellis Cup to South African captain François Pienaar to the delight of the capacity crowd. The moment is thought by some to be one of the most famous finals of any sport.{{cite news |title=Rugby World Cup history |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/sport/rugby_world_cup_history/newsid_3171000/3171522.stm |access-date=7 October 2006 |date=7 October 2003}}

{{rugbybox

|date=24 June 1995

|home={{ru-rt|RSA}}

|score=15–12 (a.e.t.)

|report=[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2960348.stm Report]

|away={{ru|NZL}}

|pen1=Stransky (3)

|drop1=Stransky (2)

|pen2=Mehrtens (3)

|drop2=Mehrtens

|stadium=Ellis Park, Johannesburg

|attendance=59,870

|referee=Ed Morrison (England)

}}

{{main article|1995 Rugby World Cup statistics}}

The tournament's top point scorer was France's Thierry Lacroix, who scored 112 points. Marc Ellis and Jonah Lomu, both of New Zealand, scored the most tries, with seven each.

The event was broadcast in Australia by Network Ten and in the United Kingdom by ITV.

The South African Mint issued a one-ounce gold proof "Protea" coin with a total mintage of 406 pieces to commemorate the event being hosted by South Africa.

Mandela and Pienaar's involvement in the World Cup is the subject of the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation, its 2009 film adaptation Invictus, and the ESPN TV documentary The 16th Man in 2010.

{{Reflist}}

{{Portal|1990s}}

{{external media|video1={{youTube|pojLR5Pq8xY|Rugby World Cup 1995: Pool A - Australia v South Africa}}}}

• [http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/ Official Rugby World Cup Site]
• [http://www.espn.co.uk/2011-rugby-world-cup/rugby/series/worldcup/timeline/1995.html 1995 Rugby World Cup] at ESPN
• [http://www.espn.co.uk/2011-rugby-world-cup/rugby/series/18300.html?template=results Full Results and Statistics] at ESPN

{{1995 Rugby World Cup}}

{{1995 Rugby World Cup finalists}}

{{1995 Rugby World Cup venues}}

{{Rugby Union World Cup}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Cup}}

Category:1995 rugby union tournaments for national teams

1995

Category:1995 in South African rugby union

Category:1995 in rugby union

Category:Rugby union and apartheid

Category:May 1995 sports events in Africa

Category:June 1995 sports events in Africa