Invictus II – Rugby can unite South Africa again - John Carlin

After spending time in South Africa where he witnessed South Africa becoming a democracy, John Carlin wrote the book, “Playing the enemy - Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation.” It told the story of how Nelson Mandela, the country’s newly elected leader forged a friendship with Springbok captain Francois Pienaar and united the divided South African nation behind the Boks that led to their historic win of the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995. The book was made into the film, Invictus, directed by Clint Eastwood with Matt Damon playing Pienaar and Morgan Freedman filling Mandela’s rather large shoes. Carlin told Biznews that this could be an Invictus II moment for South Africa and surprisingly he is supporting the Springboks in the final against England at this year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. - Linda van Tilburg