Uplifted by the atmosphere of the most emotional rugby party ever thrown, inspired by the presence of their President and intoxicated by their own self-belief and sheer bloody- mindedness, the Springboks of South Africa became world champions at the expense of the favourites, the All Blacks of New Zealand.
It was not the expected victory based on a try-scoring spree led by the giant Jonah Lomu but on the dainty right feet of the two smallest men on field, Joel Stransky and Andrew Mehrtens, the outside-halves who engaged in a personal kicking duel which Stransky won in the 93rd minute of play, in the second half of extra-time, after the two sides had completed 80 minutes stuck on nine points apiece.
No tries, but a pulsating drama for all that, the stadium at fever pitch throughout the afternoon and into the early evening. If New Zealand had planned to tear into the Springboks with the awesome power that had accounted for England in the opening minutes of the semi-final, they could not have got off to a worse start. Mehrtens' kick-off did not travel 10 metres and the dream of an error-free initial assault was in tatters.
Other plans went astray, too. This was meant to be the final that would confirm the million-dollar potential of Lomu on the wing. The player who had utterly dominated the proceedings of the past month was brought into play as soon and as often as possible and on a few occasions threatened to demolish all before him. But in general South Africa put in some marvellous tackles and prevented Lomu from stealing the show. In fact, he ended as a 20-year-old rather humbled by the whole experience. He dropped the ball on several occasions in the tackle and even spilled a simple pass three minutes from the end when one final, wild gallop might still have won the game.
Without Lomu as a flying target, the other revelation of the World Cup, Kronfeld, was another much-reduced figure. The back-row battle instead belonged to Pienaar and Kruger who were prodigious in their tackling and covering.
The World Cup has been all about collision and high-velocity impact. It has also seen a lot of tries. At the last gasp the tries dried up and the little men took over. The contest was so even up front that it was always likely to be a question of generalship at half-back rather than bulldozing running. It was the Springbok pairing of Van der Westhuizen and Stransky who had the better of Bachop and Mehrtens.
The confrontation between Bachop, all wrists and lightning delivery, and Van der Westhuizen, all ducking and darting on the blind side, was clearly won by the Springbok. Bachop was another All Black who had a disappointing day, his hands suddenly vulnerable at the base of the pack. His opposite number not only fed his outside-half more smoothly but he was a vital back-up to his wing forwards in the dash across field to help Small haul down Lomu. South Africa 's scrum-half enjoyed a work-rate as high as anyone's on the field.
All the points, however, came from his partner who completed a cool-headed performance with the vital 30-metre drop goal deep into injury time. Stransky's late effort complemented the one he had struck ten minutes before half-time which put South Africa in the lead for the first time. Until then New Zealand had enjoyed the better of the fascinating duel. As early as the fourth minute Lomu came into midfield as a dummy runner around whom the midfield tried to penetrate. South Africa were penalised at the ruck and Mehrtens put the All Blacks in front.
Five minutes later the Springboks drew level after Stransky's break was supported by Andrews and it was New Zealand's turn to be penalised at the ruck. Stransky made it three-all.
Then came the only time when Lomu really threatened to go on the rampage. He crashed into midfield and this time the ball was served up for him as he moved clean through the gap between Stransky and Kruger. Van der Westhuizen's tackle was supported by Du Randt but the prop was then penalised for offside. Mehrtens put New Zealand 6-3 ahead.
South Africa responded with their best period of pressure and might well have been awarded a penalty try as their scrummage seemed to be well on the way to heaving New Zealand back over their try-line. Referee Morrison only awarded a penalty which Stransky kicked before dropping the goal eight minutes later that gave the Springboks the lead at half-time. They might have reached the interval with an even better advantage had Le Roux's kick been collected near the line by either Joubert or Williams, both in hot pursuit.
As it was New Zealand started the second half with Joseph on for Brewer, but ready all the same to start applying pressure of their own. Mehrtens missed with a drop goal, Lomu started to drop his passes but it needed superb tackles by Mulder and Joubert to prevent Lomu and Osborne from crossing in the corner. New Zealand's only reward was a drop goal by Mehrtens following a line-out won by the admirable Jones.
The scores were now level but New Zealand were running out of personnel. Ellis came on for Wilson and Strachan for Bachop. It wasn't just the All Blacks who were feeling the strain, for Pagel had to replace Swart in the Springbok front-row. There would be three more substitutions in extra-time which would witness a penalty apiece by the outside-halves before, seven minutes from time, Stransky struck with his drop goal. It wasn't long before Ellis Park rose to acclaim not a fantastic rugby match but their home team as champions of the world.
South Africa: A Joubert; J Small (B Venter 98), J Mulder, H Le Roux, C Williams; J Stransky, J van der Westhuizen; P du Randt, C Rossouw, B Swart (G Pagel 68), K Wiese, H Strydom, F Pienaar (capt), R Kruger, M Andrews (R Straeuli 91).
Replacements (not used): G Johnson, J Roux, N Drotske.
New Zealand: G Osborne J Wilson (M Ellis, 55), F Bunce, W Little, J Lomu A Mehrtens, G Bachop (A Strachan 66-71) C Dowd (R Loe 83), S Fitzpatrick (capt), O Brown, I Jones, R Brooke, M Brewer (J Joseph 40), J Kronfeld, Z Brooke
Replacements (not used): S Culhane, N Hewitt
Referee: E Morrison (England)
South Africa 15: (Penalties: Stransky (3). Drop goals: Stransky (2)
New Zealand 12: (Penalties: Mehrtens (3). Drop goal: Mehrtens
