Niluv Patel

INVICTUS
Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South African President, initiates a unique
venture to unite the apartheid-torn land: With the help of the team captain
Francois Pienaar, enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995
Rugby World Cup.

1. What type of reactions do people have in South Africa with the release of Nelson
Mandela from prison and his subsequent election as president.
The black people were very excited and supportive of Nelson Mandela. They were also
cheering for Mandela at the stadium and they were proud of themselves
The While people were sad and angry and they were booing him at the stadium they
threw cans on the field when he came. The team captains dad said he made too
much money and he deserved less
2. What are some of the issues Nelson Mandela faces as President of South Africa
Convincing the blacks to support the South African team and convincing the white
parliament members to not quit their jobs.
3. Why does the rugby team cause such a divide between white and black South
Africans
On the Rugby team there is more white people than black people. This is unfair to the
black people and they are arguing over it but the white people dont like black people
on the team.
4. As captain of the South African Rugby team, what are some of the issues Francois
Pienaar faces.
The team may not always follow what Francois told them to do like when he gave
them the piece of paper to memorize that shows god bless south Africa but they did
not really think much of it and threw away the paper.

Niluv Patel
4. As you watch the film make notes on how Nelson Mandela and Franois Pienaar
use Mandela's 8 Lessons of Leadership.

Courage is not the absence

of fear - it's inspiring
others to move beyond it.

Nelson Mandela

Francois Pienaar

When Mandela said good luck to

In the final match vs New Zealand

the

Francois and the rest of the team

entire

team

before

their

match, to inspire them to move

were a bit nervous during the match

beyond their fears before and

but Francois was the leader and he

when playing

pretended to be calm and unfrighten

so others would feel the same way

Lead from the front - but

Whenever Nelson made a decision

Francois gave a piece of paper to all of

don't leave your base

in parliament he had support

his teammates that meant god bless

since there

south Africa. They did not bother

behind

reading it since Francois did not have

his teams support.
Lead from the back - and

In meetings in parliament Nelson

Francois listened to what his team

let others believe they are

let others talk first and then he

members

in front

would talk at the end so it would

decisions based on what others said

seem like others are contributing.

so

said

others

and

would

then

also

made

feel

they

contributed.
Know your enemy - and

Nelson decided to learn about his

Once the team advanced to the finals

learn about his favorite

enemys favourite sport which got

the team watched the other semi-

sport

him closer to the rugby team and

finals game to get to know the winner

the white population of south

of the semi-finals game better and

Africa

their play style

Keep your friends close -

The Springboks were once rivals

On the team the blacks and the

and your rivals closer

to Mandela, but he kept them

whites did not necessarily agree on

close enough to choose them to

everything

represent South Africa

England

the

England

instead.

members

of

and

in

the

team
the

game

cheered
Francois

team

close

vs
for
kept
so

everyone would like him.

Appearances matter - and

Nelsons Posture and attitude

Francois

always

had

positive

remember to smile

mattered. He always looked like

attitude towards the team and others

an open person and he always

followed him because of him being

had a big grin on his face showing

very positive and optimistic.

Niluv Patel
that he is positive and optimistic.
Nothing is black and white

All the decisions that Nelson

Every decision that Francois made

made were complex and had

was a complex decision he once made

meaning behind them. Nelson

sure the team still tried their best

promoted the Rugby team a lot

even though they were beating the

which got even more attention,

other team and they had a very good

this

chance of winning.

also

helped

blacks

and

whites get along better in South

Africa.
Quitting is leading too

During one meeting Nelson got

When Francois gave a piece of paper

up midway and left to check on

to all of his team members all of the

the Rugby game.

team members threw away the paper

and Francois decided to quit at the
right time but he mentioned that
paper meant god bless south Africa