South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team (the Springboks) are the current holders of the Rugby World Cup and 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners.[1] They are currently ranked as the third best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.
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 then 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.
The Springboks play in green and gold jerseys, and their emblems are the Springbok and the Protea. The side have been playing international rugby since 1891, when a British Isles side toured the nation, playing South Africa in their first Test on 30 July. South Africa is currently coached by Peter de Villiers, after Jake White, who led the Boks to the 2007 World Cup title, announced his resignation effective at the end of 2007. The current captain is John Smit, who has played hooker for most of his career, although he has also been a prop, mainly in 2008 and 2009.[2] Due to Smit being unavailable for the November 2010 Tests after surgery, lock Victor Matfield took Smit’s place as captain for that tour.
South African |
| Union | South Africa Rugby Union |
| Nickname(s) | Springboks, Springbokke, Boks, Bokke, Amabokoboko |
| Emblem(s) | the Springbok and the Protea |
| Coach (es) | Peter de Villiers |
| Captain(s) | John Smit |
| Most caps | Victor Matfield (105) |
| Top scorer | Percy Montgomery (893) |
| Most tries | Joost van der Westhuizen (38), Bryan Habana |
| Appearances | 4 (First in 1995) |
| Best result | Champions, 1995 and 2007 |
Current squad
South Africa Jersey
South Africa’s 49-man training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. A 50th man, Jean Deysel, was added to the training squad as cover for injured loose forwards Willem Alberts, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith.
Head Coach: Peter de Villiers
Hooker: Bismarck du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, John Smit (c), Adriaan Strauss
Prop: BJ Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Dean Greyling, Werner Kruger, Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Gurthrö Steenkamp
Lock: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Alistair Hargreaves, Victor Matfield (vc), Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Flip van der Merwe
Flanker: Willem Alberts, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Jean Deysel, Francois Louw, Juan Smith, Deon Stegmann
Number 8: Ashley Johnson, Ryan Kankowski, Pierre Spies, Duane Vermeulen
Scrum-half: Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar
Fly-half: Butch James, Elton Jantjies, Patrick Lambie, Morne Steyn
Centre: Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Adrian Jacobs, Wynand Olivier
Wing: Bjorn Basson, Bryan Habana, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen
Fullback: Gio Aplon, Zane Kirchner, François Steyn
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