Playing the enemy
Subtitle: Nelson Mandela and the game that made a nation
By: John Carlin
Publisher: Atlantic
Published: 2009
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9781843548607
Subjects: History; Rugby football; Apartheid; Race relations; Social conditions; Politics and government; Political aspects; Springboks (Rugby team); Rugby World Cup (1995)
Description: In June 1995, Nelson Mandela conquered the hearts of white South Africa and united his country, black and white, behind their rugby team. This book tells the extraordinary story of the journey to that moment. As the day of the final of the 1995 Rugby World Cup dawned, and the Springboks faced New Zealand's all-conquering All Blacks, more was at stake than a sporting trophy. When Nelson Mandela appeared wearing a Springboks jersey and led the all-white Afrikaner-dominated team in singing South Africa's new national anthem, he conquered the hearts of white South Africa. "Playing the Enemy" tells the extraordinary human story of how that moment became possible. It shows how a sport, once the preserve of South Africa's Afrikaans-speaking minority, came to unify the new rainbow nation, and tells of how - just occasionally - something as simple as a game really can help people to rise above themselves and see beyond their differences.
Notes: Originally published: 2008.

Includes bibliographical references and index.