South Africa at the Rugby World Cup

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South Africa have played at 8 of the 10 Rugby World Cup tournaments, having been unable to compete in the first two tournaments due to a sports boycott during the apartheid era, and have won 50% of tournaments in which they participated. Following the end of apartheid, they hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup and won the tournament, they were champions again at the 2007 tournament in France. The Springboks then made history when they beat England in the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan despite losing a pool stage match.[citation needed] They again made history in 2023 when both finalists lost pool matches.

The Springboks have the most tournament wins at the Rugby World Cup - having won 4 times - although they have participated in fewer tournaments. In addition to this, they are the only rugby team to have won every World Cup final they have played in.[citation needed]

By position[edit]

Rugby World Cup
Year Round Pld W D L PF PA Squad
New Zealand Australia 1987 Barred due to Apartheid
England France Ireland Scotland Wales 1991
South Africa 1995 Champions 6 6 0 0 144 67 Squad
Wales 1999 Third Place 6 5 0 1 219 101 Squad
Australia 2003 Quarter-finals 5 3 0 2 193 89 Squad
France 2007 Champions 7 7 0 0 278 86 Squad
New Zealand 2011 Quarter-finals 5 4 0 1 175 35 Squad
England 2015 Third Place 7 5 0 2 241 108 Squad
Japan 2019 Champions 7 6 0 1 262 67 Squad
France 2023 Champions 7 6 0 1 208 88 Squad
Total Champions 50 42 0 8 1720 641
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue

By matches[edit]

1995[edit]

Pool A
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 South Africa 3 3 0 0 68 26 +42 9
 Australia 3 2 0 1 87 41 +46 7
 Canada 3 1 0 2 45 50 −5 5
 Romania 3 0 0 3 14 97 −83 3
Source: [citation needed]

30 May 1995
South Africa 21–8 Romania
Tries: Adriaan Richter (2)
Con: Gavin Johnson
Pen: Gavin Johnson (3)
Tries: Andrei Gurănescu
Pen: Ilie Ivanciuc
Newlands, Cape Town
Attendance: 35 000
Referee: Ken McCartney Scotland

3 June 1995
South Africa 20–0 Canada
Tries: Adriaan Richter (2)
Con: Joel Stransky (2)
Pen: Joel Stransky (2)
Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Attendance: 31 000
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

Quarter-final

Semi-final
17 June 1995
South Africa 19–15 France
Tries: Ruben Kruger
Con: Joel Stransky
Pen: Joel Stransky (4)
Pen: Thierry Lacroix (5)
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 50 000 (capacity)
Referee: Derek Bevan Wales

Final
24 June 1995
South Africa 15–12 (a.e.t.) New Zealand
Pen: Joel Stransky (3)
Drop: Joel Stransky (2)
Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (3)
Drop: Andrew Mehrtens
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance: 65 000 (capacity)
Referee: Ed Morrison England

1999[edit]

Pool A
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 South Africa 3 3 0 0 132 35 +97 9
 Scotland 3 2 0 1 120 58 +62 7
 Uruguay 3 1 0 2 42 97 −55 5
 Spain 3 0 0 3 18 122 −104 3
Source: [citation needed]



Quarter-final

Semi-final
30 October 1999
South Africa 21–27
(a.e.t)
 Australia
Pen: Jannie de Beer (6)
Drop: Jannie de Beer
Pen: Matthew Burke (8)
Drop: Stephen Larkham
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 72,000
Referee: Derek Bevan Wales

Third place play-off
4 November 1999
South Africa 22–18 New Zealand
Tries: Breyton Paulse
Con: Henry Honiball
Pen: Henry Honiball (3)
Drop goals: Percy Montgomery (2)
Pen: Andrew Mehrtens (6)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Peter Marshall Australia

2003[edit]

Pool C
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP Pts Qualification
 England 4 4 0 0 255 47 +208 3 19 Quarter-finals
 South Africa 4 3 0 1 184 60 +124 3 15
 Samoa 4 2 0 2 138 117 +21 2 10
 Uruguay 4 1 0 3 56 255 −199 0 4
 Georgia 4 0 0 4 46 200 −154 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
11 October 2003
South Africa 72–6 Uruguay
Tries: van der Westhuizen (3), van Niekerk, Botha, Delport, Fourie, Bands, Rossouw, Scholtz, Greef
Con: Koen (5), Hougaard
Pen: Aguirre (2)
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 16,906
Referee: Paddy O'Brien New Zealand

18 October 2003
South Africa 6–25 England
Pen: Koen (2)Tries: Greenwood
Con: Wilkinson
Pen: Wilkinson (4)
Drop: Wilkinson (2)
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 38,834
Referee: Peter Marshall Australia

24 October 2003
South Africa 46–19 Georgia
Tries: Rossouw (2), Hougaard, van Niekerk, Fourie, Botha, Burger
Con: Hougaard (4)
Pen: Hougaard
Tries: Dadunashvili
Con: Jimsheladze
Pen: Jimsheladze (3), Kvirikashvili
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 34,308
Referee: Stuart Dickinson Australia

1 November 2003
South Africa 60–10 Samoa
Tries: van Niekerk, Muller, Hougaard, Smith, Willemse, Fourie, van der Westhuyzen, de Kock
Con: Hougaard (5), Koen (2)
Pen: Hougaard
Drop: Hougaard
Tries: Palepoi
Con: Va'a
Pen: Va'a
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 48,496
Referee: Chris White England

Quarter-final
6 November 2003
New Zealand 29–9 South Africa
Tries: MacDonald 16' c
Mealamu 59' m
Rokocoko 72' m
Con: MacDonald
Pen: MacDonald (3)
Drop: Mauger 45'
Pen: Hougaard (3)
Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 40,734
Referee: Tony Spreadbury England

2007[edit]

Pool A
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 4 0 0 189 47 +142 3 19 Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2  England 4 3 0 1 108 88 +20 2 14
3  Tonga 4 2 0 2 89 96 −7 1 9 Eliminated, automatic qualification for 2011 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 69 143 −74 1 5
5  United States 4 0 0 4 61 142 −81 1 1
Source: [citation needed]
9 September 2007
16:00
South Africa 59–7 Samoa
Tries: Habana (4) 33' m, 56' c, 66' c, 76' m
Montgomery (2) 40+' c, 53' m
Fourie 47' c
JP Pietersen 80+' c
Con: Montgomery (5/8)
Pen: Montgomery (3/3) 3', 10', 15'
ReportTry: Williams 18' c
Con: Williams (1/1)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 46,575
Referee: Paul Honiss New Zealand

14 September 2007
21:00
England 0–36 South Africa
ReportTries: Smith 6' c
Pietersen (2) 38' c, 64' c
Con: Montgomery (3/3)
Pen: Steyn (1/1) 11'
Montgomery (4/4) 36', 46', 55', 79'
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 77,523
Referee: Joël Jutge France

22 September 2007
14:00
South Africa 30–25 Tonga
Tries: Pienaar (2) 18' c, 65' m
Smith 59' c
Skinstad 62' m
Con: Pretorius (1/1)
Montgomery (1/3)
Pen: Steyn (1/1) 54'
Montgomery (1/1) 76'
ReportTries: Pulu 44' c
Hufanga 70' m
Vaki 72' c
Con: Hola (2/3)
Pen: Hola (2/3) 9', 78'
Stade Félix Bollaert, Lens
Attendance: 40,069
Referee: Wayne Barnes England

30 September 2007
20:00
South Africa 64–15 United States
Tries: Burger 10' c
Steyn 28' c
Habana (2) 35' c, 42' m
van der Linde 48' c
du Preez 54' c
Fourie (2) 64' c, 73' c
Smith 77' c
Con: Montgomery (6/7)
James (2/2)
Pen: Montgomery (1/1) 17'
ReportTries: Ngwenya 39' c
Wyles 51' m
Con: Hercus (1/2)
Pen: Hercus (1/1) 20'
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Attendance: 28,750
Referee: Tony Spreadbury England

Quarter-final
7 October 2007
15:00
South Africa 37–20 Fiji
Tries: Fourie 13' m
Smit 35' m
Pietersen 51' c
Smith 70' c
James 80' c
Con: Montgomery (3/5)
Pen: Steyn (1/1) 8'
Montgomery (1/2) 63'
ReportTries: Delasau 57' c
Bobo 59' c
Con: Bai (2/2)
Pen: Bai (2/2) 26', 44'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 55,943
Referee: Alan Lewis Ireland

Semi-final
14 October 2007
21:00
South Africa 37–13 Argentina
Tries: du Preez 7' c
Habana (2) 32' c, 76' c
Rossouw 40' c
Con: Montgomery (4/4)
Pen: Montgomery (3/3) 17', 71', 75'
ReportTry: M. Contepomi 45' c
Con: F. Contepomi (1/1)
Pen: F. Contepomi (2/4) 15', 30'
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 77,055
Referee: Steve Walsh Australia

Final
20 October 2007
21:00
England 6–15 South Africa
Pen: Wilkinson (2/2) 13', 44'ReportPen: Montgomery (4/4) 7', 16', 40', 51'
Steyn (1/2) 62'
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 80,430
Referee: Alain Rolland Ireland

2011[edit]

Pool D
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 4 0 0 166 24 +142 21 2 18 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2  Wales 4 3 0 1 180 34 +146 23 3 15
3  Samoa 4 2 0 2 91 49 +42 9 2 10 Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4  Fiji 4 1 0 3 59 167 −108 7 1 5
5  Namibia 4 0 0 4 44 266 −222 5 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
11 September 2011
20:30 NZST
South Africa 17–16 Wales
Tries: F. Steyn,
Hougaard
Con: M. Steyn (2)
Pen: M. Steyn
(Report)Tries: Faletau
Con: Hook
Pen: Hook (3)
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 33,331
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)


22 September 2011
20:30 NZST
South Africa 87–0 Namibia
Tries: Aplon (2),
Habana,
Fourie,
F. Steyn,
M. Steyn,
de Jongh (2),
Hougaard (2)
Con: M. Steyn,
Pienaar
Pen: M. Steyn
(Report)
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 26,839
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

30 September 2011
20:00 NZST
South Africa 13–5 Samoa
Tries: Habana
Con: M. Steyn (2)
Pen: M. Steyn,
F. Steyn
(Report)Tries: Stowers
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 29,734
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Quarter-Final
9 October 2011
South Africa 9–11 Australia
Pen: M. Steyn (2),
Drop: M. Steyn
(Report)Tries: Horwill,
Pen: O'Connor (2)
Regional Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 29,734
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

2015[edit]

Pool B
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 3 0 1 176 56 +120 23 4 16 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2  Scotland 4 3 0 1 136 93 +43 14 2 14
3  Japan 4 3 0 1 98 100 −2 9 0 12 Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 69 124 −55 7 2 6
5  United States 4 0 0 4 50 156 −106 5 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
19 September 2015
16:45
South Africa 32–34 Japan
Try: Louw 18' c
B. Du Plessis 33' m
De Jager 44' c
Strauss 62' c
Con: Lambie (2/3) 19', 45'
Pollard (1/1) 63'
Pen: Lambie (1/1) 57'
Pollard (1/1) 73'
ReportTry: Leitch 30' c
Goromaru 69' c
Hesketh 80' m
Con: Goromaru (2/3) 31', 70'
Pen: Goromaru (5/6) 8', 43', 49', 53', 60'
Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton
Attendance: 29,290
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

26 September 2015
16:45
South Africa 46–6 Samoa
Try: Pietersen (3) 15' m, 47' c, 78' m
Burger 58' m
Brits 71' m
Habana 80' c
Con: Pollard (1/4) 48'
Lambie (1/2) 80'
Pen: Pollard (4/4) 2', 19', 24', 39'
ReportPen: Stanley (2/5) 9', 12'
Villa Park, Birmingham
Attendance: 39,526
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

3 October 2015
16:45
South Africa 34–16 Scotland
Try: Burger 13' c
Pietersen 38' c
Habana 73' m
Con: Pollard (2/3) 13', 40'
Pen: Pollard (4/4) 17', 27', 62', 68'
Drop: Pollard 51'
ReportTry: Seymour 49' c
Con: Laidlaw (1/1) 50'
Pen: Laidlaw (2/3) 30', 45'
Weir (1/1) 60'
St. James' Park, Newcastle
Attendance: 50,900
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

7 October 2015
16:45
South Africa 64–0 United States
Try: De Allende 7' c
Penalty try 27' c
Habana (3) 42' c, 59' c, 61' c
Du Plessis 47' m
Louw (2) 53' c, 69' m
Kriel 73' m
Mvovo 80' c
Con: Pollard (4/5) 8', 28', 42', 54'
Steyn (3/5) 60', 63', 80'
Report
Olympic Stadium, London
Attendance: 54,658
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

Quarter-final
17 October 2015
16:00 BST (UTC+01)
South Africa 23–19 Wales
Try: Du Preez 75' m
Con: Pollard (0/1)
Pen: Pollard (5/7) 9', 13', 17', 21', 62'
Drop: Pollard 52'
Report[1]Try: G. Davies 18' c
Con: Biggar (1/1) 19'
Pen: Biggar (3/4) 15', 47', 64'
Drop: Biggar 40'
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 79,572
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Semi-final
24 October 2015
16:00 BST (UTC+01)
South Africa 18–20 New Zealand
Pen: Pollard (5/5) 3', 11', 21', 39', 58'
Lambie (1/1) 69'
ReportTry: Kaino 6' c
Barrett 52' c
Con: Carter (2/2) 9', 53'
Pen: Carter (1/2) 60'
Drop: Carter 46'
Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 80,090
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Bronze final
30 October 2015
20:00 GMT (UTC+00)
South Africa 24–13 Argentina
Try: Pietersen 6' c
Etzebeth 43' m
Con: Pollard (1/2) 7'
Pen: Pollard (4/5) 14', 33', 40', 48'
Report[2]Try: Orlandi 80' c
Con: Sánchez (1/1) 80'
Pen: Sánchez (1/1) 52'
Drop: Sánchez 42'
Olympic Stadium, London
Attendance: 55,925
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

2019[edit]

Pool B
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  New Zealand 4 3 1 0 157 22 +135 22 2 16 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2  South Africa 4 3 0 1 185 36 +149 27 3 15
3  Italy 4 2 1 1 98 78 +20 14 2 12 Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4  Namibia 4 0 1 3 34 175 −141 3 0 2
5  Canada 4 0 1 3 14 177 −163 2 0 2
Source: [citation needed]
21 September 2019
18:45 JST (UTC+09)
New Zealand 23–13 South Africa
Try: Bridge 24' c
S. Barrett 27' c
Con: Mo'unga (2/2) 25', 28'
Pen: Mo'unga (2/3) 23', 67'
B. Barrett (1/1) 72'
ReportTry: Du Toit 48' c
Con: Pollard (1/1) 49'
Pen: Pollard (1/2) 2'
Drop: Pollard (1/1) 59'
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama
Attendance: 63,649
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

28 September 2019
18:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) South Africa 57–3 Namibia
Try: Mbonambi (2) 10' c, 17' c
Louw 15' m
Mapimpi (2) 27' m, 54' c
Am 42' c
Gelant 48' c
Kolisi 59' m
Brits 64' c
Con: E. Jantjies (6/9) 11', 19', 43', 50', 55', 66'
ReportPen: Loubser (1/2) 24'
City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Attendance: 36,449
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

4 October 2019
18:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) South Africa 49–3 Italy
Try: Kolbe (2) 5' c, 52' m
Mbonambi 26' c
Am 57' c
Mapimpi 67' c
Snyman 75 m'
Marx 80+2' m
Con: Pollard (4/7) 6', 27', 59', 68'
Pen: Pollard (2/2) 11', 50'
ReportPen: Allan (1/1) 8'
Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Fukuroi
Attendance: 44,148
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

8 October 2019
19:15 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) South Africa 66–7 Canada
Try: de Allende 3' c
Nkosi 6' m
Reinach (3) 10' c, 18' c, 21' c
Gelant 28' c
Steyn 40'+1 c
Brits 55' c
Willemse 66' c
Malherbe 73' m
Con: E. Jantjies (8/10) 3', 12', 20', 22', 29', 40'+2, 56', 68'
ReportTry: Heaton 46' c
Con: Nelson (1/1) 48'
Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe
Attendance: 28,014
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Quarter-final
20 October 2019
19:15 JST (UTC+09)
Japan 3–26 South Africa
Pen: Tamura (1/1) 20'ReportTry: Mapimpi (2) 4' m, 70' m
de Klerk 66' c
Con: Pollard (1/3) 66'
Pen: Pollard (3/4) 44', 49', 64'
Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu
Attendance: 48,831
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Semi final
27 October 2019
18:00 JST (UTC+09)
Wales 16–19 South Africa
Try: Adams 65' c
Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 66'
Pen: Biggar (3/3) 18', 39', 46'
ReportTry: de Allende 57' c
Con: Pollard (1/1) 58'
Pen: Pollard (4/4) 15', 20', 35', 76'
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama
Attendance: 67,750
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Final
2 November 2019
18:00 JST (UTC+09)
England 12–32 South Africa
Pen: Farrell (4/5) 23', 35', 52', 60'ReportTry: Mapimpi 66' c
Kolbe 74' c
Con: Pollard (2/2) 67', 75'
Pen: Pollard (6/8) 10', 26', 39', 43', 46', 58'
International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama
Attendance: 70,103
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Overall record[edit]

Overall record against all nations in the World Cup:[3]

Country Played Wins Draws Losses For Against +/- Winning percent
 England 6 5 - 1 149 79 +70 83,33
 Samoa 5 5 - - 220 42 +178 100
 New Zealand 6 3 - 3 89 113 -24 50
 Wales 3 3 - - 59 51 +8 100
 Scotland 3 3 - - 98 48 +50 100
 Australia 3 1 - 2 57 56 +1 33
 Argentina 2 2 - - 61 26 +35 100
 Canada 2 2 - - 86 7 +79 100
 Fiji 2 2 - - 86 23 +63 100
 France 2 2 - - 48 43 +5 100
 Namibia 2 2 - - 144 3 +141 100
 Romania 2 2 - - 97 8 +89 100
 Tonga 2 2 - - 79 43 +36 100
 United States 2 2 - - 128 15 +113 100
 Uruguay 2 2 - - 111 9 +102 100
 Japan 2 1 - 1 58 37 +21 50
 Georgia 1 1 - - 46 19 +27 100
 Italy 1 1 - - 49 3 +46 100
 Spain 1 1 - - 47 3 +44 100
 Ireland 1 - - 1 8 13 -5 0
Total 50 42 0 8 1720 641 +1079 84

References[edit]

  1. ^ "'Pure genius' try from Fourie du Preez grabs late victory for Springboks over Wales". www.rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Greatest Springboks generation bow out with bronze, while Argentina look ahead to golden future". rugbyworldcup.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  3. ^ "All Blacks at the Rugby World Cup". allblacks.com. Retrieved 31 October 2015.