June 24 down the years

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Francois Pienaar receives the Webb Ellis Trophy from Nelson Mandela © Getty Images

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Players/Officials Andrew Mehrtens | Tony O'Reilly | Francois Pienaar | Joel Stransky

Teams Australia | British and Irish Lions | Free State | New Zealand | South Africa | Wellington

Grounds Ellis Park | Sydney Cricket Ground

1995
South Africa beat New Zealand 15-12 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg after extra-time to win the Rugby World Cup at their first attempt.

The game was a tight affair with no tries in 100 minutes of rugby and the Springboks opted to mark Jonah Lomu out of the game after his demolition of England in the semi-final. The game was tied 9-9 after normal time and both Joel Stransky and Andrew Mehrtens scored an early extra-time penalty before Stransky clinched the trophy with his late dropped goal.

The game will be remembered for the iconic celebrations after the game where Sprinkgbok captain Francois Pienaar received the Webb Ellis Trophy from the South Afrcian President, Nelson Mandela, who was wearing a Springbok jersey with Pienaar's number six on the back.

1899
Australia played their first-ever Test match, beating the British/Irish tourists 13-3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in front of 28,000 spectators. Australia's tries came from Ginger Colton , Poley Evans and Lonnie Spragg. Gwyn Nicholls scored a consolation try for the visitors.

1950
In the last match before their decisive third Test, the Lions gained a morale-lifting 12-6 victory against Wellington at Athletic Park. Bleddyn Williams crossed for two of the winners' tries.

1959
Tony O'Reilly scored his first representative tries on New Zealand soil to help the Lions to a 23-14 win against Poverty Bay/East Coast in Gisborne.

1997 The Lions were gathering momentum in South Africa as the mid-week team defeated Free State 52-30 in Bloemfontein between the first and second Tests. A hat-trick of tries from John Bentley and 17 points from the boot of Tim Stimpson gave the 'dirt trackers' the victory.

2007
In World Cup year South African coach Jake White caused eyebrows to be raised in Australia and New Zealand at the "shadow" squad he named for the Springboks' away matches of the Tri Nations.

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