It was important for Matt Damon to do justice to his role as South African rugby team captain, Francois Pienaar in the Nelson Mandela biopic Invictus.

The story follows the efforts by the newly-elected President Mandela to unite the nation. How? By rallying the South African rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.

It was an impressive achievement and a smart move by Mandela, who knew that sports could help unify the nation. That fact was never far from the actor’s thoughts as he stepped into the production.

Click onto media bar for Matt Damon’s enthusiastic praise for all of Nelson Mandela’s achievements.

Invictus, which stars Morgan Freeman as South African President Nelson Mandela, is in theatres now.