Adaptation Displacement: 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.
Aluminum Christmas Trees: 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 about the stunt.
Cliché Storm: 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 Nelson Mandela fulfilling the role of the inspirational coach.
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?
Hilarious in Hindsight: The plane 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.
Questionable Casting: 5'10" Matt Damon 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.
Special Effect Failure: 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. Morgan Freeman may be the only man who could play him in this generation (in fact, an episode of American Dad! had the joke of Morgan Freeman looking like Nelson Mandela), but there is a noticeable physical difference.
.