le capitaine de l'équipe de rugby d'Afrique du Sud, François Pienaar (D) est félicité par le Président de la République Sud-africaine, Nelson Mandela (G), après la victoire de son équipe en finale de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby face à la Nouvelle-Zélande le 24 juin 1995 à Johannesburg.South African rugby team captain, Francois Pienaar (R), is congratulated by South African President Nelson Mandela (L) after South Africa won the Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand 24 June 1995 in Johannesburg.        (Photo credit should read JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP/Getty Images)
South Africa unites with Rugby World Cup win
01:05 - Source: CNN
CNN  — 

It was the image that defined South Africa’s seismic shift.

President Nelson Mandela wearing the green Springbok jersey to greet victorious captain Francois Pienaar after South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup was a sign of the changing times following by the recent end of apartheid.

South Africa had been excluded from the first two World Cups because of the racial segregation in place since 1948, and the 1995 event was the first major tournament hosted by a unified South Africa.

While the country was still fractured, Mandela’s gesture of reconciliation and attempt to cross the cultural divide after South Africa’s 15-12 win over New Zealand made waves around the world.

Watch CNN World Sport’s report from 1995 at the top of the page.