* AdaptationDisplacement: It's far better-known than the book it was based on, John Carlin's ''Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation''.
* AluminumChristmasTrees: Yes, the "Good luck Bokke" plane flew over the stadium, twice in fact. People who didn't live that moment (and specially the post-9/11 generation) will express their disbelief [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJVMlHfloHA about the stunt]].
* ClicheStorm: A lot of reviewers criticized the film for following many of cliches and plot points found in several other movies about underdog sports teams, even if it did have a famous world leader like UsefulNotes/NelsonMandela fulfilling the role of the inspirational coach.
* SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}: When ThoseTwoGuys are about to go for a [[HoYay celebratory hug]], then [[SubvertedTrope decide against it]].
* SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}:
** The Springboks don't like the idea of running coaching clinics in the townships. But then they actually go to a township to do this; within a few minutes, they're having the time of their lives and so are the kids.
** While Mandela is watching the All Blacks-England game on TV, he looks out the window and sees the black and white members of his bodyguard team (who could barely have a civil conversation at the beginning of the film) all laughing and throwing a rugby ball around together.
--->'''Mandela:''' ''(smiling at Brenda and Mary)'' Still think I'm wasting my time with the rugby?
* HilariousInHindsight: The plane [[spoiler: that flies in lower and lower to the stadium where Mandela is located... before flying overhead and revealing the "Go Bokke" painted on the underside]].
%% * SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: The ending.
* QuestionableCasting: 5'10" Creator/MattDamon as 6'3" Springbok captain François Pienaar. Still, his performance was mostly lauded by critics, and he ended up receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
** Creator/MattDamon {{lampshade|Hanging}}d this upon meeting the RealLife François Pienaar.
--> I look taller on film.
* SpecialEffectFailure: The film uses news footage of the ''real'' Nelson Mandela in the beginning (when he's just been released from prison) and at the end. Creator/MorganFreeman may be the only man who could ''play'' him in this generation (in fact, an episode of ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'' had the joke of Morgan Freeman looking like Nelson Mandela), but there is a noticeable physical difference.
----