Is the movie invictus historically accurate?

Answer 1

Not completely (from Wikipedia):

• Johan de Villiers, the TV commentator who first bad-mouths the Boks and then praises the Springboks, after the final whistle, asks the question of Pienaar: "What did it feel like to have 62,000 fans supporting you in the stadium?" and receives the answer: "We didn't have 62,000 fans behind us, we had 43 million South Africans." It was in fact an SABC reporter called David van der Sandt.

• During the Rugby World Cup Final, security men are shocked to see what appears to be a low-flying jumbo jet, only to see it is harmless. In reality, all security staff were briefed about the jet manoeuvres planned for that day.

• During the scene where the fans are entering Ellis Park Stadium for the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, advertising banners can be seen in the distance that read "Coca-Cola Park", which did not become the stadium's name until 2008.

• After meeting the players Mandela immediately leaves the field; in reality he remained on the pitch until the National Anthems had been sung.

• François Pienaar did not sing the national anthem as shown in the film.

• Pitch had current markings at 15m rather than those used in 1995. Actual game-ending play was an error at back of scrum, rather than ball being kicked into touch.

• In reality, Mandela provided Pienaar with an extract from Theodore Roosevelt's "The Man in the Arena" speech from 1910, rather than Henley's "Invictus".

Answer 2

Not completely (from Wikipedia):

• Johan de Villiers, the TV commentator who first bad-mouths the Boks and then praises the Springboks, after the final whistle, asks the question of Pienaar: "What did it feel like to have 62,000 fans supporting you in the stadium?" and receives the answer: "We didn't have 62,000 fans behind us, we had 43 million South Africans." It was in fact an SABC reporter called David van der Sandt.

• During the Rugby World Cup Final, security men are shocked to see what appears to be a low-flying jumbo jet, only to see it is harmless. In reality, all security staff were briefed about the jet manoeuvres planned for that day.

• During the scene where the fans are entering Ellis Park Stadium for the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, advertising banners can be seen in the distance that read "Coca-Cola Park", which did not become the stadium's name until 2008.

• After meeting the players Mandela immediately leaves the field; in reality he remained on the pitch until the National Anthems had been sung.

• François Pienaar did not sing the national anthem as shown in the film.

• Pitch had current markings at 15m rather than those used in 1995. Actual game-ending play was an error at back of scrum, rather than ball being kicked into touch.

• In reality, Mandela provided Pienaar with an extract from Theodore Roosevelt's "The Man in the Arena" speech from 1910, rather than Henley's "Invictus".