South Africa national rugby union team

"Springboks" redirects here. For other uses, see Springbok (disambiguation).
South Africa
Nickname(s) Springboks
Emblem Springbok &
Protea
Union South African Rugby Union
Head coach Allister Coetzee
Captain Vacant
Most caps Victor Matfield (127)
Top scorer Percy Montgomery (893)
Top try scorer Bryan Habana (64)
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current 3 (as of 15 February 2016)
Highest 1 (2009)
Lowest 6 (2015)
First international
South Africa 0–4 British Isles
(Cape Town, South Africa; 30 July 1891)
Biggest win
South Africa 134–3 Uruguay
(East London, South Africa; 11 June 2005)
Biggest defeat
England 53–3 South Africa
(London, England; 23 November 2002)
World Cup
Appearances 6 (First in 1995)
Best result Champions, 1995, 2007
Website www.sarugby.co.za

The South Africa national rugby union team, commonly known by their nickname of the Springboks, is the South African international rugby union team and is governed by the South African Rugby Union. The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblems are the Springbok and the King Protea. The team has been playing International Rugby since 30 July 1891, when they played their first Test match against a British Isles touring team.

Although South Africa was instrumental in the creation of the Rugby World Cup competition, the Springboks did not compete in the first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991 because of anti-apartheid sporting boycotts of South Africa. The team made its World Cup debut in 1995, when the newly democratic South Africa hosted the tournament. The Springboks defeated the All Blacks 15–12 in the final, which is now remembered as one of the greatest moments in South Africa's sporting history, and a watershed moment in the post-Apartheid nation-building process. South Africa regained their title as champions 12 years later, when they defeated England 15–6 in the 2007 final. As a result of the 2007 World Cup tournament the Springboks were promoted to first place in the IRB World Rankings, a position they held until July the following year when New Zealand regained the top spot. They were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.[1]

The Springboks also compete in the annual Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri-Nations), along with southern-hemisphere counterparts Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. They have won this championship on three occasions in sixteen years. They also play Test matches against the various rugby-playing nations. Despite currently being ranked third in the world by the International Rugby Board, they have on several occasions held the No.1 spot, and in recent years, have had a solid grip on the 2nd Spot.

History

First internationals: 1891–1913

The first British Isles tour took place in 1891.[2] These were the first representative games played by South African sides. The tourists won all twenty matches they played, conceding only one point.[3][4] The British Isles' success continued on their tour of 1896, winning three out of four tests against South Africa. South Africa's play improved markedly from 1891, and their first test win in the final game was a pointer to the future.[5][6] In 1903 the British Isles lost a series for the first time in South Africa, drawing the opening two tests before losing the last 8–0.[7][8] Rugby was given a huge boost by the early Lions tours, which created great interest in the South African press.[9] South Africa would not lose another series—home or away—until 1956.[10]

The 1906 Springboks team.

The first South African team to tour the British Isles and France occurred during 1906–07. The team played tests against all four Home Nations. England managed a draw, but Scotland was the only one of the Home unions to gain a victory.[11] The trip instilled a sense of national pride among South Africans.[10][12] The South Africans played an unofficial match against a 'France' team while the official French team were in England; the Springboks won 55–6.[13][14] It was during this tour that the nickname Springboks was first used.[15][16][17]

The 1910 British Isles tour of South Africa was the first to include representatives from all four Home unions. The tourists won just one of their three tests.[18]

The Boks' second European tour took place in 1912–13. They beat the four Home nations to earn their first Grand Slam, and also defeated France.[10][19]

Inter war

The Springboks team that faced New Zealand in 1921.

By the first World War, New Zealand and South Africa had established themselves as rugby's two greatest powers.[20][21] A Springbok tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1921 was billed as "The World Championship of Rugby".[22] The All Blacks won the first Test 13–5,[23] The Springboks recovered to win the second Test 9–5,[23] and the final Test was drawn 0–0, resulting in a series draw.[24]

The 1924 British and Irish Lions team to South Africa lost all four Tests to the Springboks.[25][26] This was the first side to pick up the name Lions, apparently picked up from the Lions embroidered on their ties.[27][28] The All Blacks first toured South Africa in 1928, and again the Test series finished level. The Springboks won the first Test 17–0 to inflict the All Blacks' heaviest defeat since 1893.[29][30] The All Blacks rebounded to win the second Test 7–6. After a Springbok win in the third Test, the All Blacks won 13–5 to draw the series.[31]

Despite winning South Africa's second Grand Slam, the Springbok tourists of 1931–32 were an unloved team, due to their tactics of kicking for territory.[32][33] It was successful however, winning against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as defeating all their Welsh opponents for the first time.[34]

The complete squad that toured New Zealand and Australia in 1937.

In 1933, Australia toured South Africa, with the Springboks winning the series 3–2.

In 1937 South Africa toured New Zealand and Australia and their 2–1 series win prompted them to be called "the best team to ever leave New Zealand".[35][36]

The British Isles toured South Africa again in 1938, winning the majority of their tour matches. The Springboks secured easy victories in the first two tests. However, the Lions bounced back to record a win in the third test, for the first Lions win on South Africa soil since 1910.[37]

Post-war era

Danie Craven was appointed coach in 1949, and started his coaching career winning ten matches in a row, including a 4–0 whitewash of New Zealand on their 1949 tour to South Africa.[38]

The 1951–52 team that toured Europe was considered amongst the finest Springbok sides to tour.[19] The team won the Grand Slam as well as defeating France. Hennie Muller captained the side. The South African highlight of the tour was a 44–0 defeat of Scotland.[32][39] The team finished with only one loss, to London Counties, from 31 matches.[40]

In 1953, Australia toured South Africa for the second time and although they lost the series they defeated South Africa 18–14 in the second test. This was the first Springbok defeat for 15 years. The 1955 British Lions tour to South Africa four-test series ended in a draw.

In 1956, Springboks toured Australasia the All Blacks won its first series over the Springboks, in "the most bitterly fought series in history."[41][42]

When France toured South Africa in 1958 they were not expected to compete.[43] France exceeded expectations and drew 3–3.[44] The French then secured a Test series victory with a 9–5 victory.[45]

Anti-apartheid protests: 1960s–1970s

In 1960, international criticism of apartheid grew in the wake of The Wind of Change speech and the Sharpeville massacre.[46] The Springboks increasingly became the target of international protest. The All Blacks toured South Africa in 1960, despite a 150,000 signature petition opposing it.[47] The Springboks avenged their 1956 series defeat by winning the four-match test series 2–1 with one draw.[42][48] Later that same year the Springboks toured Europe, and they defeated all four Home unions for their fourth Grand Slam.

The 1962 British Lions tour to South Africa lost all three tests. In 1963 the touring Wallabies beat the Springboks in consecutive tests, the first team to do so since the 1896 British team. In 1964, in Wales' first overseas tour they played one test match against South Africa, losing 24–3, their biggest defeat in 40 years.[49][50][51]

South Africa had a poor year in 1965, losing matches in a tour of Ireland and Scotland, and in a tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The planned 1967 tour by the All Blacks was cancelled by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union after the South African government refused to allow Maori players.[52] In 1968 the Lions toured and lost three Tests and drew one.

Next year in the 1969–70 Springbok tour to Britain and Ireland the Springboks lost test matches against England and Scotland, and drew against Ireland. Throughout the tour however, large anti-apartheid demonstrations meant that several matches had to be played behind barbed wire fences.

In 1970 the All Blacks toured South Africa once again—after the South African government agreed to treat Maoris in the team and Maori spectators as 'honorary whites'.[53][54] The Springboks won the test series 3–1.

In the Springbok tour of Australia in 1971, the Springboks won all three tests. As in Britain three years before, however, massive anti-apartheid demonstrations greeted the team, and they had to be transported by the Royal Australian Air Force after the trade unions refused to service planes or trains transporting them. A planned tour of New Zealand for 1973 was blocked by New Zealand Prime Minister Norman Kirk on the grounds of public safety.[55]

The Lions team that toured South Africa in 1974 triumphed 3–0 (with one drawn) in the test series. A key feature was the Lions' infamous '99 call'. Lions management had decided that the Springboks dominated their opponents with physical aggression, so decided "to get their retaliation in first". At the call of '99' each Lions player would attack their nearest rival player. The "battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium" was one of the most violent matches in rugby history.[56]

Sporting isolation: 1970s–1980s

The 1976 All Blacks tour of South Africa went ahead, and the Springboks won by three Tests to one, but coming shortly after the Soweto riots the tour attracted international condemnation. Twenty eight countries boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics in protest, and in 1977 the Gleneagles Agreement discouraged any Commonwealth sporting contact with South Africa. In response to the growing pressure, the segregated South African rugby unions merged in 1977. A planned 1979 Springbok tour of France was blocked by the French government.

The Lions toured South Africa in 1980, losing the first three tests before winning the last one.

The 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand went ahead in defiance of the Gleneagles Agreement. South Africa lost the series 2–1. The tour and the massive civil disruption in New Zealand had ramifications far beyond rugby. In 1981, Errol Tobias became the first non-white South African to represent his country when he took the field against Ireland. South Africa sought to counteract its sporting isolation by inviting the South American Jaguars to tour. The team contained mainly Argentinian players. Eight matches were played between the two teams in the early 1980s—all awarded Test status. In 1984, England toured losing both test matches; of the players selected, only Ralph Knibbs of Bristol refused to tour for political reasons.

Due to the isolation from apartheid, from 1985 to 1991, South Africa did not play a single test match against an established country, although South Africa did play some matches against makeshift teams.[57] In 1985, a planned All Black tour of South Africa was stopped by the New Zealand High Court. A rebel tour took place the next year by a team known as the Cavaliers, which consisted of all but two of the original squad.[58] The Springboks won the series 3–1. In 1989, a World XV sanctioned by the International Rugby Board went on a mini-tour of South Africa; all traditional rugby nations bar New Zealand supplied players to the team. South Africa was not permitted by the International Rugby Board to compete in the inaugural 1987 Rugby World Cup, nor in the following 1991 Rugby World Cup.

Rainbow nation and 1995 World Cup

Apartheid was abolished during 1990–91, and the Springboks were readmitted to international rugby in 1992. They struggled to return to their pre-isolation standards in their first games after readmission. During the 1992 All Blacks tour, the first to South Africa since 1976, the Springboks were defeated 27–24 by New Zealand, and suffered a 26–3 loss to Australia the following month.

South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup, with a surge of support for the Springboks among the white and black communities behind the slogan "one team, one country."[59] This was the first major international sports event to be held in the Rainbow Nation. By the time they hosted the 1995 World Cup, the Springboks, coached by Kitch Christie, were seeded ninth. They won their pool by defeating Australia, Romania, and Canada. Wins in the quarterfinal against Western Samoa (42–14) and in the semifinal against France (19–15) sent the Springboks to the final. South Africa won the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final against the All Blacks 15–12 in extra-time.[60][61][62][63][64] President Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok shirt, presented the trophy to captain Francois Pienaar, a white Afrikaner. The gesture was widely seen as a major step towards the reconciliation of white and black South Africans.

A series of crises followed in 1995 through 1997. Christie resigned in 1996 due to leukaemia. South Africa struggled in the new Tri-Nations competition, the All Blacks won a test series in South Africa for the first time in 1996,[65] and the Lions won their 1997 South African tour test series two games to one. Coach Andre Markgraaff was fired in 1997 over a racial comment he made. The team suffered successive defeats in the Lions 1997 tour and the 1997 Tri Nations Series.

In 1997, coach Nick Mallett coached South Africa's unbeaten 1997 tour of Europe, and in 1998 the Boks tied the then-existing record for longest test winning streak, winning 17 consecutive tests, including the 1998 Tri-Nations.[66] At the 1999 Rugby World Cup the Springboks reached the semi-finals of the competition, where they lost to eventual champions Australia.[67]

Bobby Skinstad in June 2007

During the 2002 and 2003 seasons, the Springboks lost by record margins to England (53–3), France, Scotland and New Zealand.[68][69] At the 2003 Rugby World Cup, they were eliminated in the quarter final round – their worst showing to date.

Following wins during the June 2004 tours, the Boks won the 2004 Tri Nations Series. The Springboks won the 2004 IRB International Team of the Year award. The Springboks finished second in the 2005 Tri-Nations.

Percy Montgomery running the ball for the Springboks against Samoa in 2007.

The 2006 Springboks lost to France, ending their long undefeated home record. A poor 2006 Tri Nations Series included two losses to the Wallabies. Coach Jake White told the press in July 2006 that he had been unable to pick some white players for his squad "because of transformation"—a reference to the ANC government's policies to redress racial imbalances.

2007 Rugby World Cup victory

The Springboks before their 2007 RWC match against Samoa.

At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, the Springboks won their pool. The Springboks then defeated Fiji 37–20 in the quarterfinals, and Argentina 37–13 in the semi-finals. In the final they prevailed 15–6 over England to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a second time.

In January 2008, Peter de Villiers was appointed as the first non-white coach of the Springboks. De Villiers's first squad included ten of colour. The team finishes last in the Tri Nations, but notched several wins during their 2008 end of year tour.

The 2009 season was more successful. The Boks earned a 2–1 series win over the Lions, and then won the 2009 Tri Nations Series. However, during the November tests they lost their top spot in the IRB rankings with losses to France and Ireland. Nonetheless, the Boks were named IRB International Team of the Year.

The Boks' June 2010 test campaign included a win over France (their first victory over the French since 2005).[70] However, the Boks performed poorly in the 2010 Tri Nations campaign, sliding to third in the world rankings.[71] In the 2011 Tri Nations the Boks rested a number of players in preparation for the upcoming World Cup. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Springboks topped their group before falling to Australia 11–9 in the quarter-final.

Apartheid and transformation

Even before the apartheid laws were introduced to South Africa in 1948 the Springboks had been an all-white team. The team became a symbol of racial division within South Africa, and following the first open elections in 1994, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) instituted a policy of transformation in South African sport. In this context transformation can be defined as "a complete alternation of the appearance or character of South African rugby", and one aim is to transform the Springboks into a team more representative of South Africa's race and class.[72]

South Africa's World Cup winning side of 1995 fielded only one non-white player (Chester Williams). This continued in the team's biggest matches of the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, and in the 2007 World Cup final the team fielded two non-white players (Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen).[73] South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins considered the number of non-white players in the 2007 World Cup squad too low,[73] and in 2008 the first non-white coach of the side was appointed. The political pressure on rugby coaches and administrators to select non-white players is strong; 16 of the 35 new Springboks appointed by former coach Jake White were non-white.[73] ANC Minister of Parliament Butana Komphela expressed a view held by many politicians in the country when he said "Sport cannot be excluded from imperatives of empowerment and transformation."[73] Currently, 15 of the 49 players in training for the World Cup are non-white.

Controversy over the emblem

Since the demise of apartheid the ruling African National Congress has wanted to replace the Springbok across all national teams, as emblem of the racially segregated sporting codes, with a neutral symbol that would represent a decisive break with a repressive past. The King Protea as South Africa's national flower was chosen for this purpose, so that the national cricket team became known as the Proteas, for example. A similar change was envisioned for the national rugby squad's springbok emblem. Paul Roos's team had first introduced the Springbok in 1906, and it had promoted a measure of unity among white English and Afrikaans-speaking players after the two Anglo-Boer Wars of the late 19th century.[74]

The Springbok was regarded as representing both the exclusion of players who were not designated white under apartheid legislation and, by extension, of apartheid itself.[75] Although the Springbok was adopted briefly by the first coloured national rugby team in 1939 and by their first black counterparts in 1950, it became exclusively associated with segregated sporting codes afterwards. South African rugby officials in particular, and the national rugby team itself, have an historical association with racism from 1906 on. The first rugby Springboks initially refused to play against a Devon side that included Jimmy Peters, the first black player to represent England.[76] Legendary official, national coach, and Springbok scrumhalf Danie Craven had acquiesced with government officials who had demanded that Māori players be excluded from visiting All Black teams.[77] Craven had also indicated that the Springbok was exclusively tied to the white identity of the national rugby team.[75]

As a result of political pressure the national rugby team jersey from 1992 on featured a king protea alongside the springbok. As portrayed in the film Invictus, pressure to replace the Springbok as emblem for the rugby team came to a head in 1994, just before the Rugby World Cup that would take place in South Africa. As a result of Nelson Mandela's direct interference, the ANC's executive decided not to do away with the emblem at the time, but to reappropriate it. After the national team won the 1995 Rugby World Cup, black rugby pioneer Dan Qeqe said that "The Springboks play for all of us".[74]

In March 2004 the South African Sports Commission ratified a decision that the protea be the official rugby emblem on blazers and caps, with the concession that the springbok could remain on the team jersey.[78] And in November 2007 the ANC's special conference at Polokwane again endorsed the need for a single symbol for all sporting codes. While critics like Qondisa Ngwenya foresaw a loss of revenue from dumping the springbok emblem,[74] others like Cheeky Watson urged the need for an alternative, unifying symbol.[79] In 2015 for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the springbok was moved from the front of the jersey to the right sleeve while the Protea remained on the front. This was due to World Cup regulations stating that only the IRB logo and the main team logo could go on the front of the shirt. Several South African rugby fans voiced their disappointment and anger at the reveal of the 2015 shirt as a result of the springbok not being on the front of the shirt.[80]

Jersey

South Africa 2002 season jersey made by Nike and sponsored by Castle
2002 Springbok rugby jersey.

South Africa play in green jerseys with a gold collar and trim, white shorts and green socks. The jersey is embroidered with the SA Rugby logo on the wearer's left chest and the springbok logo on the right chest. The jersey is made by ASICS and their current shirt sponsor is South African banking company ABSA.

Historically, the green jersey was first adopted when the British Isles toured South Africa in 1896.[81] On their first tour to Great Britain and Ireland in 1906–07 South Africa wore a green jersey with white collar, blue shorts, and blue socks. A replica shirt was worn in 2006 against Ireland in Dublin to mark the centenary of the tour.[82] When Australia first toured South Africa in 1933, the visitors wore sky blue jerseys to avoid confusion, as at the time, both wore dark green jerseys. In 1953, when Australia toured again, the Springboks wore white jerseys for the test matches. In 1961 Australia changed their jersey to gold to avoid further colour clashes.[83]

The Springbok nickname and logo also dates from the 1906–7 tour of Britain. The springbok was chosen to represent the team by tour captain Paul Roos in an attempt to prevent the British press from inventing their own name. The logo was not restricted to the white team alone – the first coloured national team used the springbok in 1939 and the first black team in 1950.[81] After the fall of apartheid in 1992 a wreath of proteas was added to the logo. When the ANC was elected in 1994 the team's name was not changed to the Proteas, like that of other South African sporting teams, only because of the intervention of President Nelson Mandela.[81][84]

In December 2008, the SARU decided to place the protea on the left side of the Boks' jersey, in line with other South African national teams, and move the springbok to the right side of the jersey.[85] The new jersey was worn for the first time during the British and Irish Lions' 2009 tour of South Africa.[86]

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
1996–1999 Nike No shirt sponsor
2000–2003 Castle Lager*
2004 mid year internationals None
2004 Tri-Nations Canterbury
December 2004 – 2010 SASOL
2011–2013 Absa
2014–present Asics

* In a 2001 autumn international against France in Saint-Denis, the logo on their kit was replaced by Charles because of a law prohibiting alcohol companies from advertising during sports events in France.

Home grounds

The Springboks do not use a national stadium as their home, but play out of a number of venues throughout South Africa. The 60,000 seat Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg was the main venue for the 1995 World Cup,[87] where the Springboks defeated the All Blacks in the final. Other regular venues for tests include Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Newlands Stadium in Cape Town, Kings Park Stadium in Durban, Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.[88] The Springboks played their first test match at Soccer City on 21 August 2010, a Tri Nations match against New Zealand.[89]

Other stadiums which have been used for test matches include Buffalo City Stadium in East London, the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace outside of Rustenburg, Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit and Puma Stadium in Witbank.

The first South African international took place at Port Elizabeth's St George's Park Cricket Ground in 1891.[90] Ellis Park was built in 1928, and in 1955 hosted a record 100,000 people in a Test between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions.[87]

The Springboks are said to have a notable advantage over touring sides when playing at high altitude on the Highveld.[91] Games at Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld, or Vodacom Park are said to present physical problems,[92][93] and to influence a match in a number of other ways, such as the ball travelling further when kicked.[94] Experts disagree on whether touring team's traditionally poor performances at altitude are more due to a state of mind rather than an actual physical challenge.[93]

Records

Top 30 rankings as of 9 May 2016[95]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1 Steady New Zealand 96.10
2 Steady Australia89.33
3 Steady South Africa 87.66
4 Steady England 83.98
5 Steady Wales 83.10
6 Steady Argentina 82.59
7 Steady Ireland 80.33
8 Steady France 78.36
9 Steady Scotland 78.32
10 Steady Japan 77.05
11 Steady Fiji 76.96
12 Steady Georgia 72.62
13 Steady Tonga 71.60
14 Steady Italy 70.78
15 Steady Samoa 70.36
16 Steady Romania 67.52
17 Steady United States 65.68
18 Steady Canada 64.27
19 Steady Russia 63.56
20 Steady Uruguay 63.23
21 Steady Namibia 61.75
22 Steady Spain 60.87
23 Steady Belgium 57.94
24 Steady Germany 57.71
25 Steady Hong Kong 57.17
26 Steady South Korea 56.70
27 Increase 2 Ukraine 56.45
28 Decrease 1 Kenya 55.89
29 Decrease1 Chile 55.73
30 Steady Portugal 54.29
*Change from the previous week
South Africa's Historical Rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 1 November 2015[95]

List of South Africa national rugby union team records

Rugby Championship

South Africa's only annual tournament is The Rugby Championship (formerly Tri-Nations), involving Australia and New Zealand since 1996, with Argentina joining the competition in 2012. South Africa has won the tournament three times; in 1998 and 2004 and 2009. South Africa also participates in the Mandela Challenge Plate with Australia, and the Freedom Cup with New Zealand as part of the Rugby Championship.

Tri Nations (1996 – 2011)
Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Table
points		 Championships
played won drawn lost for against diff
 New Zealand725002219361395+5413223210
 Australia72291421531 1721−190341523
 South Africa722814314801831−351241383
Rugby Championship (2012 – )
Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Table
points		 Championships
played won drawn lost for against diff
 New Zealand211812628337+29111853
 Australia2110110434515−813451
 South Africa2110110522424+9810520
 Argentina212118337645−3088180

Updated: 8 August 2015
Source: espnscrum.com

World Cup

South Africa did not participate in the 1987 and 1991 World Cups because of the sporting boycott that apartheid brought against them. South Africa's introduction to the event was as hosts. They defeated defending champions Australia 27–18 in the opening match, and went on to defeat the All Blacks 15–12 after extra time in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final, with a drop goal from 40 metres by Joel Stransky.[96]

In 1999 South Africa suffered their first World Cup loss when they were defeated 21–27 by Australia in their semi-final; they went on to defeat the All Blacks 22–18 in the third-fourth play-off match.[97] The worst ever South African performance at a World Cup was in 2003 when they lost a pool game to England, and then were knocked out of the tournament by the All Blacks in their quarter-final.[98] In 2007 the Springboks defeated Fiji in the quarter-finals and Argentina in the semi-finals. They then defeated England in the final 15–6 to win the tournament for a second time. In 2011 the Springboks were defeated by Australia 9–11 in the quarter-finals after winning all four their pool games.

In 2015 World Cup South Africa suffered a 32–34 loss to Japan in their first pool match on 19 September. BBC reported the game as arguably the biggest upset in rugby union history.[99][100]

Overall

IRB World Ranking Leaders
New Zealand national rugby union team South Africa national rugby union team New Zealand national rugby union team South Africa national rugby union team New Zealand national rugby union team South Africa national rugby union team New Zealand national rugby union team England national rugby union team New Zealand national rugby union team England national rugby union team

Until the 1990s South Africa were considered one of the most successful rugby nations in Test match history, with a positive win-loss ratio against every Test playing nation including their traditional rivals, New Zealand. Since that time, the Springboks have lost their winning record against two teams: the New Zealand All Blacks, and at the 2015 Rugby World Cup the Springboks lost against Japan in these two teams' first ever test. South Africa are currently ranked number three in the world rankings (as of 19 October 2015). When the ranking system was introduced in October 2003 South Africa were ranked sixth. Their ranking fluctuated until victory in the 2007 Rugby World Cup briefly sent them to the top of the rankings. Since then, the top two rankings changed ultimately remaining with the All Blacks since November 2009 when the Boks lost to France on their end-of-year tour[101] and most recently regained second position after defeating Australia in Pretoria.

Below is test matches played by South Africa up until 30 October 2015. Only fixtures recognised as test matches by the South African Rugby Union are listed.[102][103]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Argentina 22 20 1 1 90.90% 803 423 +380
 Australia 81 45 35 1 55.56% 1572 1415 +157
 British and Irish Lions 46 23 17 6 50.00% 600 516 +84
 Canada 2 2 0 0 100.00% 71 18 +53
 England 37 23 12 2 62.16% 780 592 +188
 Fiji 3 3 0 0 100.00% 129 41 +88
 France 39 22 11 6 56.41% 783 578 +205
 Georgia 1 1 0 0 100.00% 46 19 +27
 Ireland 22 16 5 1 72.73% 432 277 +155
 Italy 12 12 0 0 100.00% 599 145 +454
 Japan 1 0 1 0 0% 32 34 −2
 Namibia 2 2 0 0 100.00% 192 13 +179
 New Zealand 91 35 53 3 38.46% 1430 1765 −335
 New Zealand Cavaliers ± 4 3 1 0 75.00% 96 62 +34
 Pacific Islanders 1 1 0 0 100.00% 38 24 +14
 Romania 1 1 0 0 100.00% 21 8 +13
 Samoa 9 9 0 0 100.00% 431 99 +332
 Scotland 26 21 5 0 80.77% 686 286 +400
 South American Jaguars 8 7 1 0 87.50% 210 114 +96
 Spain 1 1 0 0 100.00% 47 3 +44
 Tonga 2 2 0 0 100.00% 104 35 +69
 United States 4 4 0 0 100.00% 209 42 +167
 Uruguay 3 3 0 0 100.00% 245 12 +233
 Wales 31 28 2 1 90.32% 837 459 +378
 World XV 3 3 0 0 100.00% 87 59 +28
Total 452 287 144 21 63.50% 10480 7042 +3438

± The Cavaliers was the name given to an unofficial (rebel) New Zealand team which toured South Africa in 1986. The New Zealand Rugby Union did not sanction the team and do not recognise the side as a New Zealand representative team.

Players

Current squad

On 28 August 2015, coach Heyneke Meyer named his 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.[104]

On 27 September, Jean de Villiers was released from the squad following injury and were replaced with Jan Serfontein.[105]

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province
Schalk Brits Hooker (1981-05-16) 16 May 1981 10 England Saracens
Bismarck du Plessis ‡ Hooker (1984-05-22) 22 May 1984 79 France Montpellier
Adriaan Strauss ‡ Hooker (1985-11-18) 18 November 1985 54 South Africa Bulls
Jannie du Plessis ‡ Prop (1982-11-16) 16 November 1982 70 France Montpellier
Frans Malherbe Prop (1991-03-14) 14 March 1991 12 South Africa Stormers
Tendai Mtawarira ‡ Prop (1985-08-01) 1 August 1985 75 South Africa Sharks
Trevor Nyakane Prop (1989-05-04) 4 May 1989 23 South Africa Bulls
Coenie Oosthuizen ‡ Prop (1989-03-22) 22 March 1989 23 South Africa Cheetahs
Lood de Jager Lock (1992-12-17) 17 December 1992 19 South Africa Cheetahs
Pieter-Steph du Toit Lock (1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 8 South Africa Sharks
Eben Etzebeth ‡ Lock (1991-10-29) 29 October 1991 44 South Africa Stormers
Victor Matfield ‡ Lock (1977-05-11) 11 May 1977 127 South Africa Bulls
Willem Alberts ‡ Flanker (1984-05-11) 11 May 1984 38 France Stade Français
Schalk Burger Flanker (1983-04-13) 13 April 1983 86 Japan Suntory Sungoliath
Siya Kolisi ‡ Flanker (1991-06-16) 16 June 1991 13 South Africa Stormers
Francois Louw Flanker (1985-06-15) 15 June 1985 43 England Bath
Duane Vermeulen Number 8 (1986-07-03) 3 July 1986 35 France Toulon
Fourie du Preez (c) ‡ Scrum-half (1982-03-24) 24 March 1982 76 Japan Suntory Sungoliath
Rudy Paige Scrum-half (1989-08-02) 2 August 1989 2 South Africa Bulls
Ruan Pienaar Scrum-half (1984-03-10) 10 March 1984 88 Ireland Ulster
Pat Lambie ‡ Fly-half (1990-10-17) 17 October 1990 50 South Africa Sharks
Handré Pollard Fly-half (1994-03-09) 9 March 1994 20 South Africa Bulls
Morné Steyn Fly-half (1984-07-11) 11 July 1984 60 France Stade Français
Damian de Allende ‡ Centre (1991-11-25) 25 November 1991 13 South Africa Stormers
Jan Serfontein ‡ Centre (1993-04-15) 15 April 1993 26 South Africa Bulls
Jesse Kriel Centre (1994-02-15) 15 February 1994 11 South Africa Bulls
Bryan Habana Wing (1983-06-12) 12 June 1983 117 France Toulon
Lwazi Mvovo Wing (1986-06-03) 3 June 1986 15 South Africa Sharks
JP Pietersen Wing (1986-07-12) 12 July 1986 66 South Africa Sharks
Zane Kirchner Fullback (1984-06-16) 16 June 1984 31 Ireland Leinster
Willie le Roux ‡ Fullback (1989-08-18) 18 August 1989 34 South Africa Cheetahs

Appearances updated 30 October 2015.
‡ denotes players who are centrally contracted to the South African Rugby Union.

Individual records

Percy Montgomery holds the South African record for test points.

South Africa's most capped player is Victor Matfield with 127 caps.[106] The most-capped back is Percy Montgomery. Montgomery also holds the South African record for Test points with 893, which at the time of his international retirement placed him sixth on the all-time list of Test point scorers (he now stands ninth).[107]

John Smit was the world's most-capped captain, having captained South Africa in 82 of his 110 Tests, but has since been overtaken.[108][109] Smit also played a record 46 consecutive matches for South Africa.

The record try scorer is Bryan Habana with 64 tries. (as at 8 October 2015)[107][110]

Hall of Fame players

Eleven former South African international players have been inducted into either the International Rugby Hall of Fame or the IRB Hall of Fame. Six are members of the International Rugby Hall of Fame only; two are members of the IRB Hall of Fame only, and four are members of both Halls of Fame.

  1. Barry "Fairy" Heatlie played 6 Tests between 1896 and 1903.
  2. Bennie Osler played 17 consecutive Tests between 1924 and 1933.
  3. Danie Craven played 16 Tests between 1931 and 1938.
  4. Hennie Muller played 13 Tests between 1949 and 1953.
  5. Frik du Preez played 38 Tests between 1961 and 1971.
  6. Morne du Plessis played 22 Tests between 1971 and 1980.
  7. Naas Botha played 28 Tests between 1980 and 1992.
  8. Danie Gerber played 24 Tests between 1980 and 1992.
  9. Francois Pienaar played 29 Tests between 1993 and 1996.
  10. Joost van der Westhuizen played 89 Tests between 1993 and 2003.
  11. John Smit played 111 Tests between 2000 and 2011. He ended his international career as the most-capped Springbok in history.

Coaches

Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the South African national team was revealed on 12 April 2016:[111][112]

Coaches
Allister Coetzee Head coach
Mzwandile Stick Assistant coach (backline)
Johann van Graan Assistant coach (forwards)
Ian Schwartz Team manager
Dr Conrad von Hagen Team doctor
Dr Warren Adams Strength and Conditioning coach
Tanu Pillay Physiotherapist
Vivian Verwant Physiotherapist
JJ Fredericks Logistics manager
Rayaan Adriaanse Media manager
Annelee Murray PR manager

Former coaches

The role and definition of the South Africa coach has varied significantly over the team's history. Hence a comprehensive list of coaches, or head selectors, is impossible. The following table is a list of coaches since the 1949 All Blacks tour to South Africa. Both World Cup-winning coaches, Christie and White, were inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011 alongside all other World Cup-winning head coaches through the 2007 edition.[113]

Name Tenure Win %[114]
Danie Craven 1949–56[115] 74%
Basil Kenyon 1958[116] 0%
Hennie Muller 1960–61, 1963, 1965[117] 44%
Boy Louw 1960–61, 1965[118] 67%
Izak van Heerden 1962[119] 75%
Felix du Plessis 1964[120] 100%
Ian Kirkpatrick 1967, 1974[121] 60%
Avril Malan 1969–70[122] 50%
Johan Claassen 1964, 1970–74[123] 50%
Nelie Smith 1980–81[124] 80%
Cecil Moss 1982–89[125] 83%
John Williams 1992[126] 20%
Name Tenure Win %[114]
Ian McIntosh 1993–94[127] 33%
Kitch Christie 1994–96[128] 100%
Andre Markgraaff 1996[129] 61%
Carel du Plessis 1997[130] 37%
Nick Mallett 1997–2000[131] 71%
Harry Viljoen 2000–02[132] 53%
Rudolf Straeuli 2002–03[133] 52%
Jake White 2004–07[134] 67%
Peter de Villiers 2008–11[135] 62%
Heyneke Meyer 2012–15[136] 67%
Allister Coetzee 2016– N/A

Tours

Traditionally, most of the test matches (and all until 1987) against other countries happened during tours. The first team to visit South Africa, was the British Lions in 1891. The first Springbok overseas tour was arranged in 1906–07 to Europe.

South Africa rugby union tours
Springboks tours
Junior Springboks
Gazelles
Rugby union tours of South Africa
British and Irish Lions
New Zealand 
Australia 
Argentina 
England 
France 
Ireland 
Italy 
Scotland 
Wales 
Fiji 
Samoa 
Tonga 
Various selections

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Africa national rugby union team.

References

Bibliography

  • Allen, Dean (2003). "Beating them at their own game: rugby, the Anglo-Boer War and Afrikaner nationalism, 1899–1948". International Journal of the History of Sport (University of Ulster) 27 (2): 172–189. 
  • Allen, Dean (2007). "Tours of Reconciliation: Rugby, War and Reconstruction in South Africa, 1891–1907". Sport in History (Stellenbosch University) 20 (3): 37–57. 
  • Bolligelo, Alana (6 November 2006). "Tracing the development of professionalism in South African Rugby: 1995–2004". Stellenbosch University. Retrieved 13 April 2008. 
  • Dine, Philip (2001). French Rugby Football – Cultural History. Berg. ISBN 1-85973-327-1. 
  • Farquharson, Karen; Marjoribanks, Timothy (2003). "Transforming the Springboks: Re-imagining the South African Nation through Sport". Social Dynamics 29 (1): 27–48. doi:10.1080/02533950308628649. 
  • Harding, Grant; Williams, David (2000). The Toughest of Them All: New Zealand and South Africa: The Struggle for Rugby Supremacy. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-029577-1. 
  • Howitt, Bob (2005). SANZAR Saga – Ten Years of Super 12 and Tri-Nations Rugby. Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 1-86950-566-2. 
  • McLean, Terry (1987). New Zealand Rugby Legends. Moa Publications. ISBN 0-908570-15-5. 
  • Nauright, John (1997). Sport, Cultures, and Identities in South Africa. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 0-7185-0072-5. 
  • Palenski, Ron (2003). Century in Black – 100 Years of All Black Test Rugby. Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers Limited. ISBN 1-86958-937-8. 
  • Parker, A.C. (1970). The Springboks, 1891–1970. London: Cassell & Company Ltd. ISBN 0-304-93591-3. 
  • Potter, Alex; Duthen, Georges (1961). The Rise of French Rugby. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. REED. 
  • Smith, David; Williams, Gareth (1980). Fields of Praise: The Official History of The Welsh Rugby Union. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 0-7083-0766-3. 
  • Van Der Merwe, Floris (1992). "Sport and games in Boer prisoner-of-war camps during the Anglo-Boer war, 1899–1902". International Journal of the History of Sport (University of Stellenbosch) 9 (3): 439–454. doi:10.1080/09523369208713806. 

Notes

  1. ↑ "Winners archive – South Africa Rugby Team". Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "1891 South Africa". lionsrugby.com. Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  3. ↑ "TOUR: 1891 South Africa". Lionsrugby.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  4. ↑ "Currie Cup: The History". planet-rugby.com. 21 August 2001. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  5. ↑ "1896 – South Africa". lionsrugby.com. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  6. ↑ Allen (2007), pg 174
  7. ↑ Allen (2007), pg 177
  8. ↑ "1903 – South Africa". lionsrugby.com. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  9. ↑ Nauright (1997), pg 40
  10. 1 2 3 Davies, Sean (28 September 2006). "Mighty Boks: South African rugby". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  11. ↑ Allen (2007), pg 182
  12. ↑ Allen (2007), pg 183
  13. ↑ "Springboks in Paris 1907–2007... part II". rugby-pioneers.blogs.com. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  14. ↑ "Africanders Contre Francois" (in French). Sports Universel Illustrés. January 1907. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  15. ↑ Parker (2009), pg 32
  16. ↑ Eberl, Nikolaus (30 October 2007). "Bafana Bafana need to put a sting in their tale". businessday.co.za. Archived from the original on 18 November 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  17. ↑ Thomsen, Ian (14 November 1995). "World Champions Face Next Test: Springboks Blossom, Flowers of a New Land". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  18. ↑ "1910 – South Africa". lionsrugby.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  19. 1 2 Standley, James (4 November 2004). "History favours Springbok slam". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
  20. ↑ The All Blacks had first played Test rugby in 1903, and toured the British Isles in 1905. By 1921 they had won 19 Tests, drawn two and lost three.
  21. ↑ Harding (2000) pg 16
  22. ↑ Zavos, Spiro (9 August 1997). "The Passion That Keeps An Old Rivalry Burning". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 52.
  23. 1 2 Harding (2000), pg 18
  24. ↑ Harding (2000), pg 20–21
  25. ↑ Davies, Sean (18 May 2005). "Early history of the Lions". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  26. ↑ "1924 – South Africa". lionsrugby.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  27. ↑ They were known as 'British Isles Rugby Union Team'—an official name that stayed with them into the 1950s.
  28. ↑ "The Lions History – Part 1". planet-rugby.com. 24 May 2001. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  29. ↑ Harding (2000), pg 23
  30. ↑ Harding (2000), pg 25
  31. ↑ Harding (2000), pg 28
  32. 1 2 "Six Grand Slam successes". tvnz.co.nz. 24 November 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  33. ↑ Massie, Allan (27 January 2003). "Rugby's great leap forward". The Scotsman. UK. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  34. ↑ "Dragons & Springboks: The first 100 years". wru.co.uk. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
  35. ↑ "THE 1956 SPRINGBOK TOUR". rugbymuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  36. ↑ McLean (1987), pg 194
  37. ↑ "1938 – South Africa". lionsrugby.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  38. ↑ Harding (2000), pg 42
  39. ↑ Under the modern scoring system it would have been a 62–0 defeat.
  40. ↑ Massie, Allan (28 January 2003). "The Battling Years". Retrieved 14 May 2008.
  41. ↑ Hewitt, Chris (3 November 2005). "The All Blacks: 100 years of attitude". The Independent (UK). Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  42. 1 2 Don Clarke at AllBlacks.com
  43. ↑ Potter (1961), pg 83
  44. ↑ Potter (1961), pg 84. In today's scoring system, the same scores would have resulted in a 5–3 Springboks win
  45. ↑ Potter (1961), pg 85
  46. ↑ Harding (2000), pg 73
  47. ↑ "'No Maoris – No Tour' poster, 1960". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  48. ↑ Harding (2000), pg 65
  49. ↑ Smith (1980), pg 368
  50. ↑ Smith (1980), pg 369
  51. ↑ "Rugby Chronology". rfu.com. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  52. ↑ "Call to honour Maori denied AB caps", 22 April 2009, NZ Herald
  53. ↑ Reid, Neil (9 May 2010). "Bee Gee: I never felt I was an honorary white". Sunday News. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  54. ↑ Brown, Michael (18 April 2010). "Rugby: Once was hatred". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  55. ↑ "Stopping the 1973 tour". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 13 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  56. ↑ Doyle, Paul (6 October 2007). "Small Talk: JPR Williams". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  57. ↑ South Africa test matches, ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  58. ↑ "Cavaliers rugby tour, 1986". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  59. ↑ Carlin, John (2008). Playing the Enemy. New York: Penguin. pp. 110–113, 172. ISBN 978-1-59420-174-5.
  60. ↑ "OSM's sporting plaques". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  61. ↑ "All Blacks and food poisoning before the 1995 Rugby World Cup final". Google. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  62. ↑ Independent Online. "News – World Rugby: Syndicate link to Kiwi poisoning of '95 (Page 1 of 2)". Iol.co.za. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  63. ↑ Sports Digital Media (11 June 2008). "Rugby World Cup 2011 The Unofficial Rugby World cup website". Worldcupweb.com. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  64. ↑ Green, Nick (5 October 2003). "Inside the mind of an All Black". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  65. ↑ Palenski (2003), pg 206
  66. ↑ This record was surpassed by Lithuania in 2010, but remains a record for "Tier 1" rugby nations. "Lithuania set new Rugby World Record". International Rugby Board. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  67. ↑ "Mighty Boks: South African rugby". BBC. 15 November 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  68. ↑ Standley, James (23 November 2002). "England rout sorry Springboks". BBC News.
  69. ↑ "Krige in the spotlight". BBC Sport. 28 November 2002. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  70. ↑ "Aplon's brace buries hapless French". Supersport. 12 June 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  71. ↑ "Boks bullied into defeat". Super Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  72. ↑ Bolligelo (2006), pg 40
  73. 1 2 3 4 Colquhoun, Andy (21 October 2007). "Springboks keep up search for the right blend of colour coordination". The Observer (UK). Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  74. 1 2 3 Evans, Ian (16 January 2008). "Symbol of unity: the Springbok vs the Protea.". The Independent (London). Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  75. 1 2 Quintal, Angela (16 October 2008). "'I also want to vomit on Bok jersey'.". Independent Online (Cape Town & Johannesburg). Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  76. ↑ Fletcher, Iain (2 August 2003). "Pioneer who broke through all-white barrier". The Independent (London). Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  77. ↑ McLook (7 September 2010). "1965 Springboks – last three tour matches.". Springbok Rugby. McLook's Letterdash Board. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  78. ↑ "Flower power to replace Springbok emblem.". Independent Online (Cape Town & Johannesburg). 14 March 2004. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  79. ↑ Bills, Peter (29 April 2009). "Cheeky Watson: 'I am disappointed in the integrity and character of the people leading South African rugby'.". The Independent (London). Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  80. ↑ Citizen Reporter. "Springbok logo moves for World Cup". citizen.co.za.
  81. 1 2 3 Evans, Ian (16 January 2008). "Symbol of unity: the Springbok vs the Protea". The Independent (UK). Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  82. ↑ "Boks to wear original jersey against Irish". IOL. Retrieved 5 November 2006.
  83. ↑ "History of the ARU". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  84. ↑ Nicoll, Ruaridh (21 October 2007). "Strains show as nation cheers on the Boks". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 12 February 2008.
  85. ↑ "Springbok badge to move to right". South African Rugby Union. 1 December 2008. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  86. ↑ "New Springbok jersey to be launched in time for British & Irish Lions tour". South African Rugby Union. 21 January 2009. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  87. 1 2 "The History of Ellis Park". eliispark.co.za. Archived from the original on 16 March 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  88. ↑ "Pick and go: Test match results database". lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  89. ↑ "NZ, SA to meet in Soweto". News24. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  90. ↑ Markman, Ivor; Derry, Debbie. "St George's Park History". stgeorgespark.nmmu.ac.za. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  91. ↑ "Lions tour itinerary leaked". news24.com. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  92. ↑ "Altitude, Madiba spook Aus". sport.iafrica.com. 25 July 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  93. 1 2 "It's all in the mind games". scrum.com. 27 July 2001. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  94. ↑ "Wallabies Focus on Upsetting Springboks". world.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  95. 1 2 "World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  96. ↑ "RWC 1995". rugbyfootballhistory.com. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  97. ↑ "RWC1999". rugbyfootballhistory.com. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  98. ↑ "RWC2003". rugbyfootballhistory.com. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  99. ↑ "Rugby World Cup 2015: South Africa 32–34 Japan". Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  100. ↑ "Japan beat South Africa in greatest Rugby World Cup shock ever". Guardian. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  101. ↑ Ranking archives can be found at the IRB website; www.irb.com
  102. ↑ "South Africa Stats". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  103. ↑ "SA Rugby – Results". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  104. ↑ "Nine World Cup winners in South Africa squad". Rugby World Cup. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  105. ↑ . SA Rugby. 2 October 2015 http://www.sarugby.net/news/24060?view=news. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  106. ↑ Griffiths, John (31 January 2011). "Unofficial world champions, Blackrock College Lions and the world's most capped lock". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  107. 1 2 "International Individual Records". superrugby.co.za. 22 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  108. ↑ "Statsguru / Test matches / Player records (filter: as captain)". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  109. ↑ Springbok milestone watch Sport24, 24 August 2010
  110. ↑ "Habana sets try record". sport24.co.za. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  111. ↑ "Allister Coetzee appointed as new Springbok coach" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  112. ↑ "Experienced Springbok Team Management confirmed" (Press release). South African Rugby Union. 12 April 2016. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  113. ↑ "RWC legends inducted into IRB Hall of Fame" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
  114. 1 2 "The poisoned chalice". Independent Online. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
  115. ↑ "Danie Craven". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  116. ↑ "Basil Kenyon". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  117. ↑ "Hennie Muller". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  118. ↑ "Boy Louw". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  119. ↑ "Izak van Heerden". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  120. ↑ "Felix du Plessis". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  121. ↑ "Ian Kirkpatrick". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  122. ↑ "Avril Malan". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  123. ↑ "Johan Claassen". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  124. ↑ "Nelie Smith". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  125. ↑ "Cecil Moss". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  126. ↑ "John Williams". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  127. ↑ "Ian McIntosh". genslin.us/bokke. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  128. ↑ "Rugby world mourns the great Kitch Christie". dispatch.co.za. 24 April 1998. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  129. ↑ "Coaching Record – Andre Markgraaff". lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  130. ↑ June 1997&tyear=31 August 1997&teama=SAF&head=Coaching%20Record%20-%20Carel%20du%20Plessis#hrh "Coaching Record – Carel du Plessis" Check |url= value (help). lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  131. ↑ November 1997&tyear=11 November 2000&teama=SAF&head=Coaching%20Record%20-%20Nick%20Mallett#hrh "Coaching Record – Nick Mallett" Check |url= value (help). lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  132. ↑ November 2000&tyear=7 June 2002&teama=SAF&head=Coaching%20Record%20-%20Harry%20Viljoen#hrh "Coaching Record – Harry Viljoen" Check |url= value (help). lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  133. ↑ June 2002&tyear=31 December 2003&teama=SAF&head=Coaching%20Record%20-%20Rudolf%20Straeuli#hrh "Coaching Record – Rudolf Straeuli" Check |url= value (help). lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 24 December 2007.
  134. ↑ June 2004&tyear=1 December 2007&teama=SAF&head=Coaching%20Record%20-%20Jake%20White#hrh "Coaching Record – Jake White" Check |url= value (help). lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 22 June 2009.
  135. ↑ January 2008&teama=SAF&head=Coaching%20Record%20-%20Peter%20de%20Villiers#hrh "Coaching Record – Peter de Villiers" Check |url= value (help). lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  136. ↑ "Coaching Record – Heyneke Meyer". lassen.co.nz. Retrieved 3 December 2015.

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