#1. Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Nestled right in the heart of Gauteng Province, one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in the world, Ellis Park takes Venatour’s top spot.
All Blacks legend Justin Marshall said of the 62,567 stadium: “Even the drive to Ellis Park on the bus is daunting, where often supporters push the bus, and certainly make it very clear you’re in enemy territory.
“On the field it’s an atmosphere like no other – hostile and very passionate. No coincidence that the Springboks play better there than at any ground in the country. They’re different beasts when they run on to Ellis Park. Something in them stirs.”
Owens wrote: “The game was South Africa v New Zealand in 2013 and the atmosphere that day was just something to behold. The game itself was just unbelievable and played at such a pace, without a doubt the best I ever refereed.
Embed from Getty Images“The All Blacks won 38-27, there were nine tries and some of them were stunning. The crowd really got into the game, as they always do in South Africa, and it made for a truly special memory.
“The ground itself is not in a great place but there is so much history there with the 1995 World Cup final being played there. They did the same in 2013 as they did in 1995 as well when they flew this massive jumbo jet over the stadium. I was out on the field warming up and it was so low you thought it was going to clip the top of the stand.
“I remember thinking to myself ‘Wow, what an occasion this is’. The supporters were incredible and it is just one of the great rugby venues anywhere in the world.”