1995

Host: South Africa
Final: South Africa 15 All Blacks 12 (after extra time)
Semi-finals: South Africa 19 France 15
All Blacks 45 England 29
Top tryscorer: Jonah Lomu (NZ)/Marc Ellis (NZ) 7 tries
Top pointscorer: Thierry Lacroix (Fra) 112 points

Golden times for the Rainbow nation

The Rugby World Cup was staged in the 'rainbow' nation in 1995 and it was the first tournament to be truly embraced by the host nation. The first World Cup in New Zealand was characterised by small crowds and an underwhelming feel to the competition. The 1991 event was definitely on a bigger scale but struggled to gain momentum as it was split across five countries and staged during the Northern hemisphere football season. In contrast, the tournament in South Africa saw huge, passionate crowds and a carnival-like atmosphere.

The Springboks had been readmitted to world rugby in 1992, following years in the wilderness due to apartheid and the consequent sanctions. Fans in South Africa felt this was the first true World Cup, as the previous events had not featured their team. The South Africans had understandably struggled in the first years back in world rugby. They lost at home to New Zealand and Australia but by 1995 had built a formidable team.

Their granite-like pack was led by inspirational skipper Francois Pineaar, while Joost van der Westhuizen and Joel Stransky were a dynamic scrum base duo. Laurie Mains was in charge of the All Black team that would contest the third World Cup.

He had gained the job in controversial circumstances in 1992 and had an indifferent start - losing the centenary series to a scratch world XV in his first year and only just beating an average Lions team in 1993.

Things improved though, and despite a 2-0 home series loss to France in 1994, Mains had developed an awesome squad with a blend of hardened veterans (Sean Fitzpatrick, Olo Brown, Frank Bunce and Walter Little) along with young guns Josh Kronfeld, Andrew Mehrtens and the incomparable Jonah Lomu.

The 1995 tournament was to rugby what the 1970 World Cup was to football - it brought the tournament to a whole new audience, saw bright attacking play in sun-drenched stadiums before enthusiastic crowds - and as Pele had his nadir in Mexico in 1970, Jonah Lomu would do things on the rugby field in this tournament that had never been seen before - nor unfortunately since.

Veteran rugby commentator Keith Quinn feels the 1995 All Black squad is the best-ever sent from these shores to compete in the global showpiece. They certainly performed brilliantly on the field, and seemed a tight-knit cohesive bunch off the field, with none of the issues that beset the squads of 1991, 1999 and 2003.

New Zealand completed a novel grand slam during the tournament - comprehensively beating Wales and Ireland in the group stages, accounting for Scotland 48-30 in the quarter-final and sending England home at the semi-final stage with a memorable 45-29 win. Quinn points out that this was a very strong English side, with world stars such as Rob Andrew, Jeremy Guscott, Will Carling and a young Martin Johnston - but they were blown away by the pace and power of the New Zealand side.

Lomu scored four tries and terrorised the English backs. Mike Catt probably still has nightmares about being trampled over by the New Zealand number 11 in one of the most replayed moments in World Cup history.

The All Blacks looked unstoppable, and infamously their inevitable march to the title was upset by a bout of food poisoning the night before the match.

Whether they were poisoned is a continuing matter of conjecture, but there is no doubt many of the team suffered from food poisoning. Despite this, and of course with the glorious benefit of hindsight, it seemed to be destiny that the Springboks would lift the Trophy in front of their delirious home fans.

They certainly started well, beating world champions Australia in the opening match. It set a tone for the tournament and the host nation gained momentum with every match - beating a strong Samoan outfit 42-14 in the quarter-finals and squeezing past a quality French side in the semi-finals in Durban.

The Wallabies started badly and got worse, in easily their poorest effort of the five tournaments so far. The team had peaked in 1991-92 and although they still could boast players such as Michael Lynagh, David Campese and Tim Horan they greatly missed their talismanic halfback Nick Farr-Jones and had an aging forward back.

After their opening loss, they were unconvincing against Romania and Canada before losing 25-22 to England at the last-eight stage.

While All Black supporters lament their 20 years of hurt since 1987 - spare a thought for French fans.

They have an unenviable record of never quite reaching their Everest - losing finalists in 1987 and 1999 and defeated at the semi-final stage in 1995 and 2003 - both occasions by the eventual champions. The French were perhaps the victim of some hometown decisions in the Cape town semi-final as a late French try was disallowed in the days before video referees.

The final was a titanic struggle. The Springboks played like men possessed and tackled like demons as they successfully shut down the All Blacks expansive game.

They stopped the previously unstoppable Jonah Lomu - indeed throughout his stellar career the giant winger never scored a try against a Springbok team in a test match.

At 12-12 after 80 minutes the match went into extra time. The tension was unbearable for those in the stadium and the millions watching on television.

Bleary-eyed New Zealanders thought they had won it late - but Mehrtens skewed a drop goal wide. Minutes later Stransky made no mistake and the South Africans knew they had won.

Pineear received the William Webb Ellis trophy from Nelson Mandela, the leader resplendent in the Springbok number 6 jersey. Glory had come to the rainbow nation.