2023-09-07 03:00:00
Europe 1 Studio SEASON 2023 – 202405:00, September 07, 2023
In 1995, the third Rugby World Cup was organized in South Africa. Nelson Mandela, just elected President of the Republic, dreams of making this country still subject to the discriminatory regime of apartheid, a “Rainbow Nation”. It is in this context that he will try to give a political dimension to rugby, then considered a “white sport”. A competition that deeply marked Abdelatif Benazzi, a legendary player who a year later would become the first captain of North African origin in the XV of France. He is the exceptional witness of this episode of the podcast “Les Géants du rugby”.
Indispensable holder of this French team, elected best third line of the competition, Abdelatif Benazzi will lead the Blues and allow them to overcome all obstacles. In this 1995 Rugby World Cup, the beginnings were difficult for the Blues: the players faced the whistles of South African fans, criticism from the media and numerous injuries, until reaching a historic match: the semi-final once morest South Africa. The Springboks, however, have something to scare their opponents. Suspected of doping, this team is “monstrous” according to Benazzi, and to make matters worse, in Durban, the weather conditions on the day of the match look like an apocalypse. But nothing stops the French, ready to face their destiny. Almost 30 years later, Abdelatif Benazzi, remembers it “as if it were today” in Les Géants du rugby, an original podcast produced by Europe 1 Studio.
The “Rugby Giants” is a Europe 1 Studio podcast
Presented by: Manon Fossat
Producer: Sebastien Guyot
Directed by: Christophe Daviaud
Edition : Lili Auriat
Communication : Kelly Decroix
Graphics: Sidonie Mangin
Archives: Sound Heritage and Documentation Department
03/05/1994
Speech Nelson MANDELA, new President of South Africa
Translation: François Clemenceau
27/05/1995
Anger Pierre Berbizier, coach of the France team
06/06/1995
Injury of the Ivorian player Max Brito
Journalist: Alain Acco
03/06/1995
Match FRANCE-SCOTLAND
Comments: Alain Acco and Pierre Albaladejo
20/06/1995
Report in the township of Khayelitsha
Journalist: Alain Acco
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#Abdelatif #Benazzi #Nelson #Mandela #destiny
