It's 20 years to the day since the All Blacks lost the third Rugby World Cup final to South Africa. Tony Smith looks back at the game still ranked as the most dramatic World Cup final.
Former All Blacks flanker Mike Brewer, now believes South Africa's controversial 1995 Rugby World Cup final win over New Zealand in Johannesburg was the right result.
If you think the 1995 All Blacks are still bitter and twisted about losing the World Cup final and muttering into their beer over allegations of pre-match poisoning, then you'd be dead wrong.
Blindside flanker Mike Brewer now insists the heartbreaking extra-time loss to the Springboks at Ellis Park was "the right result" in the context of its time.
Brewer, who now lives near Pukekohe and runs a stock feed business servicing the dairy and equine sectors, says the All Blacks don't lie awake, ruing their 15-12 defeat to Joel Stransky's dropped goal.
"It would be nice to have a World Cup winner's medal, but [South Africa's win] probably helped in cutting down a lot of the barriers after apartheid. In the spirit of 1995 it was probably the right result for the rebirth of the [South African] nation."
Brewer, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the 1995 final, says All Blacks hate to lose any game.
"We treated every test like we were going to war".
But he believes his sanguine attitude to the 1995 result is now shared by "the majority" of the Class of '95.
Even hard-headed prop Richard Loe, one of the most competitive characters to don a black jersey, has moved on. Loe said yesterday from his Central Canterbury farm that memories of the '95 final defeat didn't keep him awake at night.
"Until you said it was 20 years ago, I hadn't really thought about it. Yes, I was involved, but you move on. It's something I don't really think about."
Loe said there was no point feeling bitter and twisted about something that happened two decades ago.
Laurie Mains, who coached the All Blacks, seems still convinced something was awry when most of the All Blacks party suffered severe food poisoning two days before final.
Diarrhoea and vomiting swept through the team. Wing Jeff Wilson threw up on the side of the Ellis Park pitch and had to be replaced in the final. Goalkicker Andrew Mehrtens was also badly affected.
The problem was later linked to tea and coffee, drunk from urns at the team's hotel.
Unproven allegations were later made that a Far Eastern betting syndicate had paid a waitress to poison the All Blacks. A South African security guard assigned to the All Blacks later insisted the team had been poisoned. Rory Steyn, a former bodyguard of South African president Nelson Mandela, accompanied most of the All Blacks to a cinema in Johannesburg two days before the final.
He said in his book, One Step Behind Mandela, in 2000 that Loe vomited immediately after the movie and Wilson had severe stomach cramps.
"We raced back to the hotel and when I got up to the doctor's room, it looked like a battle zone, like a scene from a war movie," Steyn said in the book.
"Players were lying all over the place and the doctor and physio were walking around injecting them.
"I was a police officer, I worked with facts. What my eyes told me that night was that the team had deliberately been poisoned."
Mains, who has regularly asserted he has let the issue go, declined to discuss it this week, conscious it could arouse negative reactions among ardent Springbok supporters.
But he told NZME in a recent interview: "My wife knew a private investigator in South Africa and, after we came home, we contacted him and asked him to see what he could find out, if anything, because I knew all the doors would be shut."
"He had moderate success and established a black lady had been employed by the hotel two days before we arrived and that day after we got sick, she disappeared completely."
Brewer was one of the few All Blacks to escape the mystery bug.
"I didn't drink coffee on tour."
He and backrow buddy Zinzan Brooke, who was also unaffected, thought they had missed the bus when no other players fronted to head to training for the pre-test practice run.
They found manager Colin Meads, who told them training had been cancelled because too many players were ill.
"Only four or five of us didn't get sick. A lot of them were very ill.
"I didn't really think we were going to play the final."
But team management decided to keep the mass sickness a secret and to press on in the usual stoical All Black way, without making any excuses.Brewer doesn't dwell too much on whether the All Blacks were deliberately poisoned, but he says "anything is possible when you have betting in sport".
At the time, he hoped the All Blacks' superior conditioning might see them through at Ellis Park. Brewer, an All Black between 1986 and 1995, said that World Cup squad "was the fittest team I had ever been in".
"I thought our fitness would get us through, and it nearly did.
"A lot of people forget that Mehrts narrowly missed a dropped goal just before Stransky kicked his [in extra-time]."
Brewer says had Mehrtens landed the goal, the Springboks might have been forced to change their tactics and chance their arm to score a try. That could have turned the scales in the All Blacks' favour.
But greater forces may have been at work. President Nelson Mandela, sensing that a South African World Cup victory could unite the country, appeared on the pitch pre-game, wearing a green and gold No 6 jersey in a show of solidarity with Springbok captain Francois Pienaar.
Mandela was in prison on Robben Island, off Cape Town, when Meads (1970) and Mains (1976) toured South Africa with the All Blacks.
Fellow former political prisoner Tokyo Sexwale, the premier of the Gauteng region in 1995, said Mandela was "the person who cheated the New Zealanders by becoming an additional player".
Brewer believes the All Blacks made some mistakes in the lead-up to the game.
"The first one was when we didn't celebrate our semifinal win against England in Cape Town. We flew straight back to Pretoria the next day [to prepare for the final].
"In our day, All Black teams always celebrated victories, especially a good win like the England win [45-29]."
Brewer believes it might have helped the All Blacks to relax more if they had let their hair down after the Cape Town game.
He was also sceptical about the warnings the team repeatedly received about the potential for poisoning, no matter how prescient they may later have proved.
No-one outside South Africa gave the host nation a chance in the final. Australian stars John Eales and Michael Lynagh thought the All Blacks were unstoppable.
Brewer says the All Blacks were playing the most attractive brand of attacking rugby, "probably not seen since the 70s". They notched up 41 tries in five games, with their second-string team drubbing Japan, 145-17.
Such was the All Blacks' insistence on attack, Brewer remembers getting a grilling from coach Mains at an "honesty session" after the 34-9 win over Wales. The All Blacks had a commitment to get the ball wide, but Brewer and skipper Sean Fitzpatrick were smarting at a Welsh forward's pre-game taunt that the New Zealand pack were "soft".
"We made the call to keep it in tight, to show how 'soft' we were. It wasn't in the game plan, and Laurie let me know later, in no uncertain terms," Brewer chuckled.
The All Blacks had a great blend of experience, in Fitzpatrick, Brewer, Brooke, lock Ian Jones, halfback Graeme Bachop and midfielders Walter Little and Frank Bunce, and youthful elan in Mehrtens, Wilson, Walter Little, flanker Josh Kronfeld and space invader playing fullback Glen Osborne.
And they had the biggest trump card of all - 1.95m, 120kg wing 20-year-old wing Jonah Lomu, who scored four tries in the semifinal, scattering concave-chested English rivals in his surges to the line.
Some wags claimed the South Africans would need an elephant gun to stop Lomu. A South African oil company offered $2000 each time the All Black behemoth was tackled to the turf.
Brewer says the Springboks deserve credit for their tactical plan.
"They probably realised they didn't have the fitness or skills to match us. So they developed a plan to slow it down and they did it really well."
"Maybe, if we had not been so sick, we might have been able to increase the intensity, who knows," Brewer said.
The Boks became the first team at the World Cup to shackle Lomu, using a novel drift defence system with abrasive wing James Small deployed to move up quickly and stall Lomu's progress until reinforcements arrived to complete the tackle.
Small, centre Japie Mulder and halfback Joost van der Westhuizen all cut Lomu down to size and the beefy Boks loose forwards added their weight to the cause.The Boks' tactic became a template. Lomu went on to notch 37 tries in 63 tests, but never scored against South Africa in 12 internationals.
The final became an English rugby writer's dream - no tries were scored. Stransky and Mehrtens notched three penalties each and the South African slotted two dropped goals to Mehrtens' one.
There have been freer flowing World Cup finals, but none as dramatic, or as important, than the 1995 edition.
South Africa celebrated the Springboks' success with rare unanimity among all races.
No-one was more exultant than the South African Rugby Union's president, Louis Luyt, who raised hackles at the after-match function when he claimed the Springboks would have won the first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991 had they not been banned due to their nation's apartheid regime.
Brewer was among a bunch of All Blacks to object when Luyt "claimed there were only two teams in world rugby, the Springboks and All Blacks, and that the rest might as well have not turned up [to the World Cup]."
He felt it was an insult to the rest of the rugby world, especially the French and England teams, who were also at the dinner as beaten semifinalists. Brewer let Luyt know his feelings before joining a mass walk-out.
For Brewer, the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup series win over Australia, where they walloped the Wallabies 34-23 in Sydney, helped expunge memories of the World Cup final defeat.
Twelve of the group were back in the republic in 1996 when the All Blacks won their first three-match test series in South Africa.
Some Class of '95 alumni have retained links with the game. Reserve flanker Jamie Joseph has coached the Highlanders to the Super Rugby semifinals. Lomu, despite his health challenges with kidney disease, is a roving rugby ambassador. Brewer and Brooke coached in Europe briefly, Dowd and Wilson had a spell in charge at North Harbour. Loe still coaches his local club, Darfield, in the Ellesmere sub-union competition. Mehrtens, Wilson, Jones and Fitzpatrick are expert television commentators.
The All Blacks may have had their funeral faces on, in pitchside photographs, as they watched Pienaar lift the Web Ellis Trophy.
But some can now see the funny side of the most surreal match in World Cup history.
In his LinkedIn profile, loosehead prop Craig Dowd notes he won "major trophies in every team I played for. (Except the World Cup - Bloody Suzie..ha,ha)."
Mehrtens appeared to get over the setback quite quickly.
Writer and broadcaster Phil Gifford wrote in his 2014 book, Loose Among The Legends, that Mehrtens turned up to Gifford's wife Jan's 50th birthday in 1996 fantasy-theme fancy dress party, dressed in a Springbok No 10 jersey.
"I said, 'Mehrts, I know you were born in South Africa, but please don't tell me your fantasy is to be a Springbok," said Gifford, who admitted he was "one of the rugby tragics dressed as an All Black".
"No, not at all," Mehrtens riposted.
"This is Joel Stransky's gear. We swapped after the [1995] final. My fantasy is to be the guy who kicks the winning goal in the World Cup final, not the dick who misses it."
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
ALL BLACKS
Fullback: Glen Osborne, 43. The Wanganui-born free spirit had 29 tests between 1995 and 1999 before playing overseas in France and Japan. Returned to NZ to become a television presenter on Maori TV sports-themed shows.
Right wing: Jeff Wilson, 41. "Goldie" was one of the All Blacks' greatest wings, scoring 44 tries in 60 tests before retiring early to resurrect his cricket career and earn a brief recall to the Black Caps. Helped 1995 team-mate Craig Dowd coach North Harbour, but now a popular Sky TV rugby analyst. His wife, Adine (nee Harper) was a former netball Silver Fern.
Centre: Frank Bunce, 53. Made his All Blacks debut at 29 after representing Samoa at the 1991 World Cup. Went on to play 55 tests before retiring at 35. Now a popular celebrity speaker in Auckland.
Second five-eighth: Walter Little, 45. Bunce's midfield mate from North Harbour and the Chiefs played 50 tests between 1990 and 1998 and wound down his career in Japan. Believed to be back in Auckland.
Left wing: Jonah Lomu, 40. The star of the '95 tournament remains rugby's biggest name and most recognisable face. In demand as a roving rugby ambassador and respected for his charity work. Admitted to the IRB Rugby Hall of Fame in 2011.
First five-eighth: Andrew Mehrtens, 42. The impish Cantabrian had a decade-long All Black career, scoring 907 points in 70 tests between 1995 and 2004. Played until his late 30s in France, and had a brief coaching stint there before shifting to Sydney to work in the corporate sector. Has served as a kicking coach at the Waratahs and a television commentator for Sky.
Halfback: Graeme Bachop, 48. Quit All Blacks rugby in 1995, still at the peak of his powers at 28, to play professionally in Japan, who he represented at the 1999 World Cup. His brother, Stephen, and nephews Aaron and Nathan Mauger, were also All Blacks. Now lives in Christchurch.
No 8: Zinzan Brooke, 50. The outrageously gifted backrower, who kicked a long-range dropped goal in the semifinal, played the last of his 58 tests in 1997 before leaving to join London club Harlequins. Still lives in England where he and wife Ali have run a boutique bed and breakfast business in Berkshire.
Openside flanker: Josh Kronfeld, 44. The keen surfer and master of the breakdown ball-winning art won 54 caps and played at the 1999 World Cup before ending his career at English club Leicester. Now back home, working as a TV presenter after displaying his deft footwork on Dancing with the Stars.
Blindside flanker: Mike Brewer, 50. Established himself in the test backrow after controversially missing the 1991 World Cup when he was forced to take a fitness test after an Achilles tendon injury. Injuries restricted him to 32 tests since playing for the Baby Blacks in 1986. Renowned for his leadership and rugby nous, Brewer coached in Ireland and the UK before heading home to Counties to run his own stock feed business. Coaches at Murray Mexted's International Rugby Academy in Palmerston North.
Lock: Ian Jones, 48. The beanpole Northlander known as Kamo, played 79 tests between 1990 and 1999, captaining the All Blacks once, before playing in England for Gloucester and Wasps. Established a business career back in Auckland, but also works for Sky Sport.
Lock: Robin Brooke, 48. Zinzan's younger and bigger brother, earned 62 caps and was an anchorman of the Blues' early Super rugby success. Now managing director of a supermarket in Warkworth, near where the Brooke brothers grew up.
Tighthead prop: Olo Brown, 47. Arguably the greatest tighthead prop in All Blacks history, the redoubtable scrummager starred in 56 tests before back and neck injuries ended his career in 1999. Still practising as a chartered accountant in Auckland.
Hooker, captain: Sean Fitzpatrick, 52. Widely acknowledged as one of the greatest All Blacks, Fitzy was almost ever-present in 92 tests over 12 seasons and was a longtime captain. Now based in London, where he is a television analyst and runs a private equity holding company. Has been deputy chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Loosehead prop: Craig Dowd, 45. After 60 tests and a swag of trophies with London and the Blues, Dowd had more success in London with Wasps. Back in Auckland, he's coached North Harbour and done some TV commentary work. A partner in a company supplying strapping tape to sports organisations and sports medicine clinics.
Substitutes:
Marc Ellis, 43. The free-spirited Otago centre scored a record six tries in the '95 game against Japan, but switched to rugby league with the Warriors and Kiwis after eight All Black tests. Became a prominent TV presenter with fellow code-hopper Matthew Ridge. Now a successful businessman with a Waiheke Island base.
Jamie Joseph, 45. After 20 tests for the All Blacks, he moved to Japan and represented them at the 1999 World Cup. Returned to the hotel trade in NZ and coached Wellington and NZ Maori before becoming head coach of the Highlanders since 2011.
Richard Loe, 55. The 49-test master mauler farms in his native Canterbury and has run a radio show and written a Sunday newspaper rugby column. Enjoying coaching in the Combined Canterbury Country competition with local club Darfield. His son, Duke, plays for Glenmark, the North Canterbury club which produced his father and great-uncle Alex Wyllie.
Ant Strachan, 49 Got three minutes game-time as a temporary substitute. Won 11 caps and now high performance manager for the Auckland Rugby Union. Has managed the Blues Super Rugby squad and national age-group teams.
Unused Subs:
Simon Culhane, 47. The six-cap Southlander helped coach his native province NPC team for several years, including winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 50 years.
Norm Hewitt, 46. Perpetually in Fitzpatrick's shadow, Hewitt won nine caps over six seasons. Won post-career respect for the way he confronted drinking issues.
Coach: Laurie Mains, 69. The 15-test former Otago fullback coached the All Blacks from 1992 to 1995 and later moved to South Africa to coach the Cats Super rugby franchise in Johannesburg. Had a two-year stint at the Highlanders and now runs a building company in Otago.
THE 1995 SPRINGBOKS
15-Andre Joubert, 14-James Small, 13-Japie Mulder, 12-Hennie le Roux, 11-Chester Williams, 10-Joel Stransky, 9-Joost van der Westhuizen, 8-Mark Andrews, 7-Ruben Kruger*, 6-Francois Pienaar (c), 5-Hannes Strydom, 4-Kobus Wiese, 3-Balie Swart, 2-Chris Rossouw, 1-Os du Randt. Reserves: Naka Drotske, Garry Pagel, Rudolph Straueli, Johan Roux, Brendan Venter, Gavin Johnson. Coach: Kitch Christie*
(*deceased)
- Stuff
hakwa didnt realise that Ruben Kruger died
