New Zealand All Blacks rugby team were deliberately poisoned before they lost world cup final to South Africa, claims Nelson Mandela's bodyguard 

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The New Zealand All Blacks were poisoned 24 hours before they unexpectedly lost the 1995 rugby world cup final to South Africa, it has been claimed.

Rory Steyn, a bodyguard to former president Nelson Mandela, believes that the team could have had their drinking water poisoned.

The All Blacks were widely expected to win the tournament but many of the players were ill on the day and were unable to play their best.

Rory Steyn, a bodyguard to former president Nelson Mandela, believes the New Zealand All Blacks could have had their drinking water poisoned before they lost the 1995 rugby world cup final to South Africa (pictured)

The All Blacks were widely expected to win the tournament but many of the players were ill on the day (pictured) and were unable to play their best. Mr Steyn said he thought that betting syndicates were to blame

Mr Steyn, who had been appointed by Mr Mandela to oversee the security of the All Blacks, said: ‘About two-thirds of the squad got very sick, properly sick.

‘I don’t think it was the food, I think it was the coffee and the tea and possibly even the drinking water.

‘But I know what I saw…A team of guys lying on the floor, very, very ill.’

Mr Steyn said he thought that betting syndicates were to blame as they stood to lose millions by the loss of the stronger side.

He said he doubted any of the South African players would have been ‘evil’ enough to sabotage their opponents’ chances of victory.

‘I’m pretty convinced, though I have no proof of what I am saying that it all involved money and betting syndicates and the fact that the odds were hugely in favour of the All Blacks, they were devastating in that tournament,’ said Mr Steyn.

See New Zealand All Blacks updates as the rugby team 'were deliberately poisoned'

Rory Steyn (pictured right talking to South African cricketer Nicky Boje), a bodyguard to former president Nelson Mandela, believes the All Blacks could have had their drinking water poisoned before they lost the final

South African President Nelson Mandela (left) congratulates Springbok skipper Francois Pienaar after handing him the William Webb Ellis trophy at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 24 June 1995 following the rugby world cup

‘The odds were on the All Blacks, the money was on the All Blacks and I think someone needed to level the odds somewhere.’

Mr Steyn said that the team became more paranoid after beating England in the semi-final and decided to eat separately to the rest of their hotel guests.

He said: ‘On the Thursday before the final, which was on Saturday, they were poisoned.’

There was no correlation between what the players ate and who got sick so Mr Steyn believes that the water they drank could have been contaminated.

The South African win against the All Blacks by 15 points to 12 was one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time.

The win at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park brought glory and unity to South Africa as the country emerged from a globally condemned apartheid.

Mr Mandela wore a Springbok shirt for the opening match and the whole country rallied behind what was previously a white man’s sport.

But the New Zealand side smelled a rat and the team’s doctor and manager felt strongly enough to hire a private detective.