Even though he was on the losing side that day in June 1995, former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick remains under no illusion about the significance of the historic clash.
“To get the opportunity in, you know, obviously in ’95 at Ellis Park — that was a disappointment, a lost opportunity. But it was still, for me, the greatest Test match I ever played in,” Fitzpatrick said.
The 63-year-old was speaking at FNB Stadium on Tuesday, where Castle Double Malt was announced as the title partner of ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ — the commercial name for matches between the Springboks and the All Blacks.
The Springboks went on to win the Rugby World Cup final at a capacity Ellis Park, with President Nelson Mandela sharing in the team’s triumph in a moment etched in South African history.
New Zealand’s Historic 1996 Tour and Upcoming All Blacks South Africa Series
“Just purely because of what it meant to everyone, and the Mandela factor and all that, was so special. And we were playing against the Springboks.”
While the William Webb Ellis Trophy eluded Fitzpatrick and his troops that day, they would find some consolation on South African soil in 1996, winning the three-match series 2-1.
“Then to come back here in ’96, and to enter into it, the first tour [of South Africa] … and, yeah, that was for me, was just — because it was the first professional tour. We had 36 players, never done that before. And, yeah, to win that series was just amazing.”
Fitzpatrick’s comments come as New Zealand prepare to once again tour South Africa in August and September. The All Blacks are in South Africa for an entire month to play an seven-match series: four games against the local United Rugby Championship (URC) franchises (Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, Lions) and a three-Test series against the Springboks.
The teams will then clash once more on neutral territory in Baltimore, Maryland, in the USA, in their bid to grow the game globally.
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
