EXCLUSIVE: Eurosport talks to four rugby legends to find out what it is like to play in the biggest game of their lives - the World Cup final.

Few moments in sport can match the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

For the 65,000 spectators lucky enough to have been in the stadium, the experience transcended sport and became an iconic moment in the young life of democratic South Africa.

Even the millions watching around the world could not fail but appreciate the significance of Nelson Mandela wearing the Springboks' number six jersey and what it meant for everybody in South Africa.

When the president handed the Webb Ellis Cup to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar, that moment summed up all that is best about sport in general and rugby in particular.

Joel Stransky, who cemented his place in South African folklore with his winning drop goal in extra time, still gets butterflies when he thinks about the final.

"We were such a young democracy and to have Nelson Mandela come into the dressing-room and address each of us individually with a special message really set the tone for the match," Stransky (pictured right) explained.

"The game itself flew by and I can't say I remember much about it - except for the drop goal of course."

New Zealand were the overwhelming favorites to win that final, thanks in no small part to their human bulldozer Jonah Lomu.

Lomu, who was just 20, scored four tries in the semii-final as New Zealand eased past England 45-29. The might and versatility of the All Blacks was best encapsulated in number eight Zinzan Brooke's audacious drop goal from 40 metres out.

Brooke remembers the night before the semi-final clash with England with particular fondness.

"We were really concerned about England in the semi-final," explained Brooke. "We had lost to them at Twickenham the year before and the nucleus of that team was still around.

"The night before the game our coach Laurie Mains came into the dressing room to look into our eyes to ensure we were up for it. He could see the intensity in our eyes and left without saying a word."

According to Brooke, captain Sean Fitzpatrick usually said a few words before each game but this time he turned to the 20 year-old wunderkind to address his teammates.

As Brooke remembers it, Lomu, without flinching looked around the room at the other players and said: "Tomorrow I am prepared to die for my country. I am prepared to die for the All Black jersey."

The speech helped galvanize New Zealand to victory over England and set up a mouth-watering contest with the South African hosts.

"The atmosphere before the final was electric," explained Brooke. "To face up to one of our greatest foes, South Africa, in Ellis Park was something you could only dream of.

"I remember the night before that game; the atmosphere was so tense that you really felt like you could reach out and grab it."

However, Brooke said the moment the referee's whistle went, all the tension evaporated to be replaced by heart-pounding adrenaline.

"You think, now it's business; now it's time to try and win the World Cup," added Brooke.

That match went all the way to extra time as South Africa stifled the Kiwi's famed attacking flare.

Andrew Mehrtens had an opportunity to win the game with a drop goal attempt in the last moments of normal time.

As it turned out, the boot of Stransky swung the match in the Springboks favor.

"We called a back row move and we went to play the blind side," explained Stransky. "We orchestrated a nice little move to keep the forwards in and move the ball out.

"When I looked up at the positioning the All Blacks had taken - Grahame Bachop was very focused on Joost [van der Westhuizen] and Mehrtens was standing quite wide.

"There was a gaping gap. I don't remember the kick itself but I remember looking up and wishing I kicked every ball in my career that sweetly."

John Eales played in two World Cup winning sides for Australia, in 1993 and then in 1999 when he was captain of the team.

"The greatest sense of satisfaction you get is when you are back in the shed (changing room) and you have a sensation that is part relief and part elation," explained Eales.

"You sit back in your chair and you look around the dressing room. You realize then that you have achieved something really special with all the other people in that room.

"That will always be part of the relationship you have these people for the rest of your life."

England legend Martin Johnson said he put aside his anger in the final against Australia in 2003 and concentrated as captain on getting the best out of his players.

"We probably had more of an edge going into the semi-final against France because we were underdogs," Johnson (pictured left) said.

"Against Australia, we had just the right mixture of confidence and fear. We knew that if we played to our abilities we could beat them and I was focused on playing well and not losing a game I knew we could win."

Eurosport was talking to the Visa Rugby Legends ahead of the 2007 World Cup final between England and South Africa.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport