Mandela movie captures moment of sporting misery

Morgan Freeman stars as Nelson Mandela. Photo / Supplied

This is the first look at movie legend Clint Eastwood's latest film, which immortalises an infamous piece of Kiwi sporting history.

Invictus follows Nelson Mandela from his release from prison and election as President of South Africa to the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where he tried to reunite his post-apartheid country using sport.

The final between South Africa and New Zealand was marred by controversy after allegations that water drunk by the All Blacks in the lead-up to the game was poisoned by a mystery waitress named Suzie. New Zealand lost the final 15-12.

The movie stars Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman as Mandela, Matt Damon as Springboks captain Francois Pienaar and former Wellington Lions forward Zak Feau'nati as Jonah Lomu.

Feau'nati, 35, also played 13 games for Samoa, but retired from professional rugby last year.

The film is his first foray into acting.

Feau'nati was working as director of rugby at an English private school when he landed the role.

"I was 99 per cent sure it was a prank.

"But when I got a further call from the Professional Rugby Players' Association offices, it dawned on me that maybe this was serious," he told rugby website www.heavensgame.com.

"The PRA organised for me to go down to London for an interview with a casting director. Initially, all I had to do was talk a bit about myself for the casting director, and then she asked me to do the haka... I just thought what the heck and off I went, as mad as I could."

Invictus is based on journalist John Carlin's book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Changed the World.

It is expected to be nominated for best picture, alongside Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones at the 2010 Academy Awards in Los Angeles in March.

Invictus is due to open in the US on December 11 and here in January.