Website language English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
#RWC2019
20 September - 2 November
WorldRugby
Website language English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Rugby World Cup 2019 - Symbol Rugby World Cup 2019 - Symbol Rugby World Cup 2019 - Logo
Listen Live
  • RWC 2021
  • Matches
  • Video
  • Teams
  • World Cups
    • World Cups
    • New Zealand 2021
    • France 2023
  • Matches
  • News
  • Teams
  • Pools
  • Video
  • For the Fans
    • For the Fans
    • Experience Rugby World Cup
    • Predictor
    • Bar Finder
    • Greatest XV
    • #RWCEpicMoments
    • Tournament Bracket
    • Fanzones
  • Visit Japan
  • Tickets
  • Trophy Tour
  • Statistics
  • Classic
    • Classic
    • Qualifying
    • Archive
  • Media
  • Info
    • Info
    • Tournament Info
    • App
    • Official Store
    • Broadcasters
    • Match Ball Delivery
    • Impact Beyond
    • Childfund
    • Volunteers
    • Typhoon Hagibis
  • France 2023
Website language English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
WorldRugby
  • Tickets
  • Trophy Tour
  • Statistics
  • Classic
    • Classic
    • Qualifying
    • Archive
  • Media
  • Info
    • Info
    • Tournament Info
    • App
    • Official Store
    • Broadcasters
    • Match Ball Delivery
    • Impact Beyond
    • Childfund
    • Volunteers
    • Typhoon Hagibis
  • France 2023

  • Twitter @rugbyworldcup
  • Facebook @rugbyworldcup
  • YouTube World Rugby
  • Instagram @rugbyworldcup
  • Snapchat rugbyworldcup
RWC 2019 News
Latest News
Japan v Scotland - Rugby World Cup 2019: Group A
Rugby World Cup
Tue 15 June, 2021
Rugby World Cup revisited, Japan v Scotland: 80 minutes that recharged a nation
We caught up with Michael Leitch and Greig Laidlaw to discuss one of the most iconic matches from Rugby World Cup 2019.
Tue 15 June, 2021
The Open Side: Tendai Mtawarira
The Open Side
Thu 3 June, 2021
· 1m
The Open Side: Tendai Mtawarira on how the Springboks embraced diversity to win Rugby World Cup 2019
The Beast is the first guest on The Open Side, a new series of in-depth interviews and stories told by the people who were right at their centre.
Japan v Scotland - Rugby World Cup 2019: Group A
Rugby World Cup Memories
Wed 16 December, 2020
· 8m
10 classic men’s pool matches at Rugby World Cup
Following the Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw, we look back at 10 of the best men’s pool matches from the archives.
England v Australia - Rugby World Cup 2019: Quarter Final
Rugby World Cup
Fri 11 December, 2020
· 4m
Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw: Most and least common fixtures in tournament’s history
Ahead of the official Rugby World Cup 2023 Draw in Paris on Monday, we take a look at the fixtures that have been played more than others — and those that have left fans wanting more.
Latest Videos
Press conference - World Rugby
RWC Future Hosts
Thu 12 May, 2022
Press conference - World Rugby
13:22 mins
Thu 12 May, 2022
A decade of Rugby World Cup hosts - Bill Beaumont
RWC Future Hosts
Thu 12 May, 2022
A decade of Rugby World Cup hosts - Bill Beaumont
USA 2031 and 2033 : United by Rugby
RWC Future Hosts
Thu 12 May, 2022
USA 2031 and 2033 : United by Rugby
England 2025 : Rugby World Cup
RWC Future Hosts
Thu 12 May, 2022
England 2025 : Rugby World Cup
Rugby history
Wed 2 September, 2020
· 3m

Joel Stransky reflects on the first international of the professional era

The World in Union
Presented By
The first international of rugby’s professional era was played on this day 25 years ago, featuring reigning world champions South Africa and Wales. RWC 1995 winner Joel Stransky gives us his account of that milestone match.
Share ?
Share
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

Barely two months after he’d kicked South Africa to victory in the final of Rugby World Cup 1995, Joel Stransky returned to Ellis Park in a Springbok jersey – but this time as a professional player.

Stransky was one of 10 players to retain their place in the starting line-up for the first match as reigning world champions and the first to be played since the International Rugby Board (IRB, now World Rugby) declared the game had gone open.

Coming exactly a week after that momentous decision was made public, the spotlight of the world was on Johannesburg to see what the brave new world of professionalism looked like.

For Stransky, professionalism meant very little – he already felt professional in his attitude and application to be the best version of himself – other than picking up a paycheque.

“We weren’t professional (pre-26 August) but we behaved like professional rugby players in that whatever we did as jobs during the day, our Union negotiated that we could still go training in the morning and the evening, whatever it was, and the time was flexible,” Stransky said. “So your actual behaviour as a rugby player didn’t change that much if anything at all in that space (between the Rugby World Cup final and 26 August).

“We might not have been paid to play rugby but we still trained and prepared and behaved in a manner which was professional.”

THREAD: On Joel Stransky's birthday we re-live his famous drop goal in the RWC 1995 Final for the @Springboks pic.twitter.com/8HTlCo7RQa

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) July 16, 2020

Genuine fear 

That professionalism lent itself to treating the opposition with due respect. Wales may not have had the best of Rugby World Cups, but in Gareth Thomas, they had unearthed a winger who could complement Ieuan Evans on the other flank.

“If you were to ask me about the World Cup final, I don’t remember much about it, just little moments, and it’s the same with that Wales game," said Stransky.

“I am not someone who lives in the past, I am someone who lives today and thinks of tomorrow.

“But I remember us in the preparation looking at Wales and thinking, that’s quite a good side, they should achieve more than they actually do and there’s a lot of good players in there.

“We went into the game with a genuine fear of one or two players.”

In truth, the match was more notable for two unsavoury incidents which resulted in South Africa’s Cobus Wiese and Garin Jenkins picking up 30-day bans, and in the Wales hooker’s case a red card towards the end of the match, than for the quality of the action on display.

The Springboks were right to be wary of Wales as within three minutes of the match getting underway, they found themselves trailing to Mark Bennett’s close-range try.

South Africa were ultimately too strong for Alec Evans’ side, though, and five tries and 15 points from the boot of Stransky gave them a comfortable 40-11 win.

Stransky also launched the best move of the match with a searing break from inside his own half which culminated in outside centre Japie Mulder scoring in the second half.

“I made the break and, as I went to pass it, I juggled it, and it nearly slipped out of my hands. I remember James Small giving me the little finger (wag) afterwards and a wry smile,” the playmaker recalled.

“It was a beautiful day, perfect conditions for running rugby, and we wanted to move the ball around a bit.

“I wouldn’t say we wanted to put on a show because I don’t think we were a team that was good at putting on a show, we weren’t a running team, but we wanted to go out and play the game that day.”

No looking back

Stransky says his forward-thinking philosophy on life helped to prevent him suffering from a post-Rugby World Cup hangover.

“I think if you dwell in the past, you get stuck in the past. I think we had a couple of players in that team who did that and battled to move on and forward in their lives.

“For me, that Wales game was another opportunity to play test rugby, another test against a top-tier nation, and nothing to do with the past.

“It was all about what was happening on the day and in the future.”

Stransky, the man who kicked the Springboks into rugby folklore, went on to amass 22 caps and 240 points for his country before enjoying a stint overseas at English club giants Leicester Tigers.

A successful entrepreneur, pre and post-professionalism, Stransky is now a director of an Information Technology and Services group.

Read more: Bill Beaumont on 25 years of professional rugby >>

Share ?
Share
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied
  • Matches
    #RWC2019
    Matches
  • Tickets
    #RWC2019
    Tickets
  • Teams
    #RWC2019
    Teams
  • Video
    #RWC2019
    Video
  • Visit Japan
    #RWC2019
    Visit Japan
  • Shop
    #RWC2019
    Shop
Most read this week More News
1
Press releases
Wed 15 November, 2017
World Rugby awards RWC 2023 to France
2
Rugby fundamentals
Sat 21 September, 2019
Stealing the ball: Three ways to force the turnover
3
team announcement
Mon 30 September, 2019
Three Barrett brothers start for New Zealand
4
Rugby fundamentals
Thu 26 September, 2019
Attacking structure: How pods gain the hard yards
5
Thu 15 November, 2018
Striking new logo and brand identity launched for Rugby World Cup 2023
6
News
Thu 24 October, 2019
Physio proud to be with Boks for the long stretch
7
RWC 2019
Fri 23 August, 2019
Experienced Wallabies squad named for Japan
8
News
Fri 18 October, 2019
What happens if a knockout match ends in a draw?
9
Match preview
Sun 6 October, 2019
New-look All Blacks can claim 31st straight pool win
10
Press releases
Mon 9 March, 2020
RWC 2019 sets new broadcast records and inspires new audiences
More News
Worldwide Partners
Rugby World Cup 2019
Rugby World Cup 2019 - Symbol

MATCHES

TEAMS

POOLS

STATISTICS

JAPAN

TICKETS

CLASSIC

Follow Rugby World Cup on social
  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup