Rugby World Cup: Painful memories of past defeat have All Blacks legends hungry for revenge over Springboks

Twenty-eight years ago, the Rugby World Cup final produced a contest that still lives on in the memories of All Blacks and Springboks fans - and players - to this day.

With the world - and South African icon Nelson Mandela - watching on, New Zealand took on the hosts at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, after sweeping all before them throughout the tournament.

The 'Boks were contesting their first World Cup, as their nation celebrated an end to apartheid, and were eager to capture rugby's biggest prize.

All Blacks confront Springboks before the 1995 World Cup final.
All Blacks confront Springboks before the 1995 World Cup final. Photo credit: Getty Images

The tense, tryless contest lived up to its billing, forced into added time, before South African first-five Joel Stransky slotted a drop goal to provide a dream finish for the 'Rainbow Nation'.

The occasion left a bitter taste in the All Blacks' mouths - literally - with many suffering a bad case of food poisoning on the morning of the game, blamed on an alleged saboteur named Suzie and dismissed as sour grapes by the outside world.

Newshub's Andrew Gourdie has tracked down All Blacks legend Ian Jones, one of those on the wrong end of history that day, and he has payback on his mind.

"Revenge won't be on these current players' minds and revenge isn't a great emotion whatsoever, but for me and my colleagues from '95, if the boys get up on Saturday night, we'll be able to sit up and say, 'Yeah, thank you very much'."

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