1995
South Africa, absent from the first two World Cup tournaments, were magnificent hosts in 1995. And how the team delivered too, rising above huge pressure and expectancy levels to land the title.
They set the tone during a thrilling opening game at Newlands in Cape Town, beating Australia, but something was also stirring elsewhere as New Zealand's 6ft 5in wing Jonah Lomu began rampaging through Pool C, with Wales once again failing to reach the quarter-finals.
Sadly, it was all overshadowed by events at Rustenburg, when a tackle in the sixth minute of the game between Ivory Coast and Tonga left Ivory Coast wing Max Brito paralysed. South Africa, riding the crest of a wave, accounted for Western Samoa in the quarter-finals, with Lomu among five try-scorers as New Zealand despatched Scotland and a late Rob Andrew drop-goal saw England avenge their 1991 final defeat by knocking out Australia.
English hopes were blown away by four-try Lomu in Cape Town a week later though as New Zealand eased into the final against South Africa, compelling 19-15 conquerors of France at a rain-lashed King's Park, Durban.
But even Lomu met his match in the Johannesburg final, man-marked out of the game by Springboks wing James Small. South Africa ultimately prevailed 15-12 after extra-time courtesy of fly-half Joel Stransky's second drop-goal.
Competing countries: South Africa, Australia, Canada, Romania, England, Argentina, Western Samoa, Italy, Wales, New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, France, Scotland, Tonga, Ivory Coast.
Winners - South Africa, 2nd - New Zealand, 3rd - France, 4th - England.
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