59-455: Christiaan Petrus 'Tiaan' Strauss , (born 28 June 1965) is a former rugby union and rugby league footballer who represented both South Africa and Australia at international level in rugby union and also played top-level domestic rugby league in Australia. He won the 1999 Rugby World Cup with Australia and the Currie Cup with Western Province . Born in the town of Upington , Cape Province (now Northern Cape ), Strauss attended
118-496: A 9–5 victory. In 1960, international criticism of apartheid grew in the wake of The Wind of Change speech and the Sharpeville massacre . 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. The Springboks avenged their 1956 series defeat by winning the four-match test series 2–1 with one draw. that same year
177-598: 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
236-471: A late drop goal deciding a tryless match in a torrential downpour at Murrayfield Stadium , and Australia defeated the defending champions New Zealand 16–6 at Lansdowne Road. The final was played at Twickenham Stadium in London, and saw Australia triumph 12–6 against England, with a first-half try from prop Tony Daly . The following 16 teams, shown by region, qualified for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Of
295-544: A one-off match in Washington, D.C. in a 22–20 loss to Wales . A week later, he secured his first win, a 42–39 victory over England, during their three-test series . The series title was clinched in the second test, with the Springboks winning 23–12, to secure a series victory. However, South Africa were unable to gain the clean-sweep, after losing the third test, 25–10. During the 2018 Rugby Championship , Erasmus led
354-626: 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. 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
413-657: 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. In 1968 the Lions toured and lost three Tests and drew one. Next year in the 1969–70 Springbok tour to the UK and Ireland
472-590: A row as a coach and if I did that I don't deserve to be a Springbok coach. We played New Zealand in Wellington and that was important, as if we lost it I wouldn't be here." South Africa came within moments of reclaiming the Freedom Cup in the final round, but an All Black try in the dying moments of the game helped New Zealand snatch victory in 32–30 win in Pretoria and retain the cup. The Springboks won
531-586: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . South Africa national rugby union team The South Africa national rugby union team , commonly known as the Springboks (colloquially the Boks , Bokke or Amabhokobhoko ), is the country's national team governed by the South African Rugby Union . The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys with white shorts, and their emblem
590-536: Is the Springbok , a native antelope and the national animal of South Africa. The team has represented South African Rugby Union in international rugby union since 30 July 1891, when they played their first test match against a British Isles touring team. Currently, the Springboks are the reigning World Champions, having won the World Cup a record four times ( 1995 , 2007 , 2019 and 2023 ). South Africa are
649-412: The 1987 Rugby World Cup the 16 nations were divided into four pools of four nations, with each nation playing their other pool opponents once, every nation playing three times during the pool stages. Nations were awarded 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw and zero for a loss, the top two nations of every pool advanced to the quarter-finals. The runners-up of each pool faced the winners of a different pool in
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#1732790133318708-523: The 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan after defeating England 32–12 in the final . It was the first time that a Black South African rugby captain got to lift the Webb Ellis Cup , as well as the first time that a team won a final with a defeat in pool stages, the captain being Siya Kolisi who presented South African president Cyril Ramaphosa the number 6 jersey to commemorate Nelson Mandela , who wore
767-683: The 2019 final , and were named 2020 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards for the second time. They retained their world champions title in 2023 . The Springboks also compete in the annual Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri-Nations) , along with their Southern Hemisphere counterparts Argentina , Australia and New Zealand . They have won the Championship five times in 27 competitions and are
826-588: 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. The trip instilled a sense of national pride among South Africans. The South Africans played an unofficial match against a 'France' team while the official French team were in England; the Springboks won 55–6. It
885-654: The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks before switching back to rugby union for New South Wales. He was selected for Australia a total of 11 times, scoring a hat trick against Ireland on his debut. All but two of his caps were from the bench. He did make a capable replacement for Toutai Kefu in the 1999 World Cup Quarter Final in Cardiff when the former was banned but it turned out to be his last cap. Strauss returned home to South Africa and settled with his family. This South Africa rugby union biography
944-532: The Springboks during the 1992 tour of Britain and France, as Number 8 against France at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon. He went on to win 15 caps for the Springboks between 1992 and 1994, scoring 4 tries and captaining them on one occasion. He also made a record 156 appearances for Western Province during the team's golden period before he moved to Australia. In Australia he played two seasons of rugby league with
1003-533: 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 three of the four tests, drawing the other. 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 3–24, their biggest defeat in 40 years. South Africa had
1062-541: The University of Stellenbosch , where he obtained his law degree in 1990. He made his senior provincial debut for Western Province in 1986 against North Eastern Cape and scored a try on debut. At the end of the 1986 provincial season he formed the Western Province back row with Gert Smal and Deon Lotter , that played a major role in Western Province's Currie Cup victory. Strauss made his test debut for
1121-671: The World Rugby Hall of Fame . Many teams have suffered their biggest record defeats to the Springboks, including Australia , Italy , Scotland , Uruguay , Wales and New Zealand . The first British Isles tour took place in 1891, at Diocesan College. These were the first representative games played by South African sides. The tourists won all twenty matches they played, conceding only one point. The British Isles' success continued on their tour of 1896 , winning three out of four tests against South Africa. South Africa's play greatly improved from 1891, and their first test win in
1180-986: The 16 teams, eight of those places were automatically filled by quarter-finalists from the 1987 World Cup and did not have to play any qualification matches. 25 nations competed in a qualification process designed to fill the remaining eight spots, bringing the total participation to 33 nations. In the event, there was only one change from the 1987 tournament, with Western Samoa appearing in place of Tonga. [REDACTED] New Zealand [REDACTED] England [REDACTED] Italy [REDACTED] United States [REDACTED] Scotland [REDACTED] Ireland [REDACTED] Japan [REDACTED] Zimbabwe [REDACTED] Australia [REDACTED] Wales [REDACTED] Western Samoa [REDACTED] Argentina [REDACTED] France [REDACTED] Fiji [REDACTED] Canada [REDACTED] Romania As in
1239-426: The 1998 Tri-Nations. At the 1999 Rugby World Cup the Springboks reached the semi-finals of the competition, where they lost to eventual champions Australia . During the 2002 and 2003 seasons, the Springboks lost by record margins to England (3–53), France, Scotland and New Zealand. At the 2003 Rugby World Cup , they were eliminated in the quarter-final round – their worst showing to date. Following wins during
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#17327901333181298-589: The ANC government's policies to redress racial imbalances in sport. At the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, the Springboks won their pool. The Springboks then defeated Fiji 37–20 in the quarter-finals, 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
1357-521: 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). However, the Boks performed poorly in the 2010 Tri Nations campaign, sliding to third in the world rankings. 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 ,
1416-657: 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. 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
1475-486: The Springboks lost test matches against England and Scotland, and drew against Ireland and Wales. 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 '. The Springboks won
1534-589: The Springboks to second, their best placing since 2014 . The 2018 Championship saw South Africa win three games, including a thrilling 36–34 victory over New Zealand in Wellington , South Africa's first win in New Zealand since 2009. Erasmus later revealed that had the Springboks lost that match, he would have resigned: "We [had recently] lost to Australia and Argentina, and if we didn't win in Wellington I would have resigned... I have never lost three games in
1593-538: The Springboks topped their group before falling to Australia 9–11 in the quarter-finals. Following the sacking of Allister Coetzee in February 2018, Rassie Erasmus was named head coach of the national team, alongside his duties as Director of Rugby at SA Rugby, on 1 March 2018 and immediately decided to appoint Siya Kolisi as the new Springbok captain, a landmark decision. In his first match in charge, Erasmus awarded thirteen new players their first test cap, in
1652-651: 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,
1711-479: The Test series finished level. The Springboks won the first Test 17–0 to inflict the All Blacks' heaviest defeat since 1893. 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. 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. It
1770-402: 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. In 1985,
1829-467: The final game was a pointer to the future. 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. Rugby was given a huge boost by the early Lions tours, which created great interest in the South African press. South Africa would not lose another series—home or away—until 1956. The first South African team to tour
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1888-490: The first time in 1996, and the Lions won their 1997 South African tour test series two games to one. Coach Andre Markgraaff was fired in 1997 due to a racist 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
1947-478: The first to South Africa since 1976, the Springboks were defeated 24–27 by New Zealand, and suffered a 3–26 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." This was the first major international sports event to be held in the Rainbow Nation . By
2006-531: The first two World Cups in 1987 and 1991 due to international anti-apartheid sporting boycotts . The Springboks' victory over the All Blacks 15–12 in the 1995 final is remembered as one of the greatest moments in South Africa's sporting history , and a watershed moment in the post-apartheid nation-building process . This cast a new light on South Africa, where people of all colour united as one nation to watch their team play. South Africa regained
2065-451: The grounds of public safety. 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 "
2124-472: 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 1–2. The tour and
2183-449: 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. 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 . The 1951–52 team that toured Europe
2242-489: 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
2301-409: The northern hemisphere, with England the hosts of the final. Also for the first time, qualifying competitions were introduced as the number of entrants had increased, from 16 nations four years earlier, to 33 countries. The eight quarter-finalists from 1987 qualified automatically with the remaining eight spots contested through qualifiers by 25 countries. This resulted in only one new side qualifying for
2360-562: The only team to have won a version of the competition and the Rugby World Cup in the same year. Rugby union is a highly popular sport in South Africa, often attracting the country's most talented athletes. For nearly a century, South Africans have rallied behind the Springboks, the team's success has transcended the sport, becoming a symbol of national pride recognized even by those who don't follow rugby. Sixteen former Springboks and influential South Africans have been inducted into
2419-467: The only team to have won half of the Rugby World Cups they have participated in, and are also the second nation to win the World Cup consecutively (2019 and 2023). The team made its World Cup debut in 1995 , when the newly democratic South Africa hosted the tournament. Although South Africa was instrumental in creating the Rugby World Cup competition, the Springboks could not compete in
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2478-507: The quarter-finals, neither Canada nor Western Samoa proved a match for New Zealand or Scotland , respectively. Meanwhile, England knocked out 1987 finalist France in a bruising encounter. Australia pipped Ireland 19–18 in a thrilling match at Lansdowne Road , with a last-gasp try from fly-half Michael Lynagh coming after the Irish took an unexpected 18–15 lead. The semi-finals produced two tight matches: England overcame Scotland 9–6,
2537-405: The quarter-finals. The winners moved on to the semi-finals, with the winners then moving onto the final, and the losers of the semi-finals contesting a third/fourth place play off. Points system The points system that was used in the pool stage was which was changed from 1987 was as follows: A total of 32 matches (24 in the pool stage and eight in the knock-out stage) were played throughout
2596-507: The same numbered jersey during the 1995 Rugby World Cup . 1991 Rugby World Cup The 1991 Rugby World Cup ( French : Coupe du monde de rugby 1991 ) was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup , and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France: at the time, the five European countries who participated in the Five Nations Championship . This was the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in
2655-422: The second test. 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." When France toured South Africa in 1958 they were not expected to compete. France exceeded expectations and drew 3–3. The French then secured a Test series victory with
2714-412: 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 . 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 ,
2773-581: 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
2832-447: 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 quarter-final against Western Samoa (42–14) and in the semi-final 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. President Nelson Mandela , wearing
2891-591: The tournament over 30 days from 3 October 1991 to 2 November 1991. The tournament's top point scorer was Ireland's Ralph Keyes , who scored 68 points. David Campese and Jean-Baptiste Lafond scored the most tries, six in total. The event was broadcast in the United Kingdom by ITV who took over the rights from the BBC . 13 million people in the United Kingdom watched the final. In Australia it
2950-402: The tournament, Western Samoa replacing Tonga . The same 16-team pool/knock-out format was used with just minor changes to the points system. South Africa was again not included because of sanctions imposed on the country by the International Rugby Board (IRB), due to the government's apartheid policies. The pool stages produced a major upset when Western Samoa , who were making their debut in
3009-550: The tournament, defeated the 1987 semi-finalists Wales 16–13 in Cardiff. Along with the other results in the group, this led to the elimination of Wales , who finished third in Pool 3. Also notable in pool play was that Canada finished second in their pool to qualify for the quarter-finals, which remains their best performance in the World Cup. Fiji, as quarter-finalists four years earlier, had expected to occupy that position, but after
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#17327901333183068-455: The upset loss to Canada and a hammering by France, they lost even their final match against the unfancied Romanian team. Earlier, the opening match had pitted the holders New Zealand against the hosts England: New Zealand overturned a narrow half-time deficit to win the match and the pool, both teams qualifying for the quarter-finals with easy victories in their other matches. Scotland beat Ireland to top their pool, again both teams qualifying. In
3127-524: The world champions title 12 years later by defeating England 15–6 in the 2007 final . Following their 2007 World Cup victory, the Springboks ascended to first place in the IRB World Rankings , a position they held until July of the following year when New Zealand reclaimed the top spot. The team was named 2008 World Team of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards . South Africa then won their third World Cup title, defeating England 32–12 in
3186-486: Was billed as "The World Championship of Rugby". The All Blacks won the first Test 13–5, The Springboks recovered to win the second Test 9–5, and the final Test was drawn 0–0, resulting in a series draw. The 1924 British Lions team lost three of the four Tests to the Springboks, drawing the other. This was the first side to pick up the name Lions, apparently picked up from the Lions embroidered on their ties. The All Blacks first toured South Africa in 1928 , and again
3245-494: Was considered amongst the finest Springbok sides to tour. 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. The team finished with only one loss, to London Counties, from 31 matches. In 1953, Australia toured South Africa for the second time and although they lost the series, they defeated South Africa 18–14 in
3304-560: Was during this tour that the nickname Springboks was first used. 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. 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. By the first World War , New Zealand and South Africa had established themselves as rugby's two greatest powers. A Springbok tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1921
3363-562: Was one of the most violent matches in rugby history. 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
3422-455: Was successful however, winning against England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as defeating all their Welsh opponents for the first time. 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". The British Isles toured South Africa again in 1938 , winning
3481-429: Was the second and the last (as of the 2023 tournament) Rugby World Cup to be broadcast on ABC television as, from 1995, the commercial networks 7, 9 and 10 would all take over the broadcast rights sometimes in partnership with pay and streaming broadcasters Fox and Stan. In New Zealand, it was broadcast by TVNZ. In France, it was broadcast by TF1 instead of France's traditional Rugby broadcasters Antenne2 . In Ireland it
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