Mandela helped win over a white population and cement a new era in South Africa by donning the Springboks jersey during the 1995 Rugby World Cup .
Mandela spent 27 years in prison for opposing apartheid in the white minority ruled country .
Mandela , who spent 27 years in prison for opposing apartheid in the white minority ruled country , helped win over a white population and cement a new era in South Africa by donning the Springboks jersey during the 1995 Rugby World Cup .