South Africa at the Rugby World Cup

Map of nations best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments.

England playing South Africa in the 2007 World Cup.

South Africa have played at four of the six Rugby World Cup tournaments with their first appearance being when they hosted and won the 1995 Rugby World Cup. They also won the 2007 tournament.

By position

South Africa was barred from the first two World Cups due to its controversial apartheid regime.

1987 Disallowed due to apartheid
1991 Disallowed due to apartheid
1995 Champions
1999 Third
2003 Eliminated in the quarter finals
2007 Champions
2011 Eliminated in the quarter finals
2015 To be determined

By matches

1995

Pool

1995-05-25

South Africa	27 – 18	Australia
Tries: Pieter Hendriks, Joel Stransky Con: Joel Stransky Pen: Joel Stransky (4) Drop: Joel Stransky		Tries: Phil Kearns, Michael Lynagh Con: Michael Lynagh Pen: Michael Lynagh

Newlands, Cape Town
Attendance: 51 000 (capacity)
Referee: Derek Bevan

1995-05-30

South Africa	21 – 8	Romania
Tries: Adriaan Richter (2) Con: Gavin Johnson Pen: Gavin Johnson (3)		Tries: Andrei Guranescu Pen: Ilie Ivancuic

Newlands, Cape Town
Attendance: 35 000
Referee: Ken McCartney

1995-06-03

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)

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

1995-06-10

South Africa	42 – 14	Western Samoa
Tries: Chester Williams (4), Chris Rossouw, Mark Andrews Con: Gavin Johnson (3) Pen: Gavin Johnson (2)		Tries: Shem Tatupu, Toetu Nu'uali'itia Con: Tupo Fa'amasin (2)

Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance: 52 000
Referee: Jim Fleming

Semi-final

1995-06-17

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

Final

1995-06-24

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

1999

Pool

1999-10-03

Scotland	29 – 46	South Africa
Tries: Martin Leslie, Alan Tait Con: Kenny Logan (2) Pen: Kenny Logan (4) Drop: Gregor Townsend		Tries: Ollie Le Roux, Deon Kayser, Joost van der Westhuizen, Robbie Fleck, Andre Venter, Brendan Venter Con: Jannie de Beer (5) Pen: Jannie de Beer (2)

Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Colin Hawke

1999-10-10

South Africa	47 – 3	Spain
Tries: André Vos (2), Anton Leonard, Pieter Muller, Bob Skinstad, Werner Swanepoel Con: Jannie de Beer (6)		Pen: Ferran Velazco Querol

Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Referee: Paul Honiss

1999-10-15

South Africa	39 – 3	Uruguay
Tries: Albert van den Bergh (2), Joost van der Westhuizen, Deon Kayser, Robbie Fleck Con: Jannie de Beer (4) Pen: Jannie de Beer (2)		Pen: Diego Aguirre

Hampden Park, Glasgow
Referee: Peter Marshall

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

1999-10-24

South Africa	44 – 21	England
Tries: Joost van der Westhuizen, Pieter Rossouw Con: Jannie de Beer (2) Pen: Jannie de Beer (5) Drop: Jannie de Beer (5)		Pen: Paul Grayson (6), Jonny Wilkinson

Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Jim Fleming

Semi-final

1999-10-30

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: 75,000
Referee: Derek Bevan

Third place play-off

1999-11-04

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: 74,500
Referee: Peter Marshall

2003

Pool

2003-10-11

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

2003-10-18

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

2003-10-24

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

Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 34,308
Referee: Stuart Dickinson

2003-11-01

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

Knock-out stages

Quarter-final

2003-11-08

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

2007

Pool

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'	Report	Try: Williams 18' c Con: Williams (1/1)

Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 46,575
Referee: Paul Honiss

14 September 2007
21:00

England	0 – 36	South Africa
	Report	Tries: 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

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'	Report	Tries: 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

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'	Report	Tries: 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

Knock-out stages

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'	Report	Tries: 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'	Report	Try: 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

Final

Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup Final

20 October 2007
21:00

England	6 – 15	South Africa
Pen: Wilkinson (2/2) 13', 44'	Report	Pen: Montgomery (4/4) 7', 16', 40', 51' Steyn (1/2) 62'

Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 80,430
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

2011

Pool

2011-09-11

South Africa	17 – 16	Wales
Tries: F. Steyn, Hougaard Con: M. Steyn (2) Pen: M. Steyn	(Report)	Tries: Faletau Con: Hook Pen: Hook (2)

Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 33,331
Referee: Wayne Barnes

2011-09-17

South Africa	49 – 3	Fiji
Tries: Steenkamp Fourie F. Steyn M. Steyn Mtawarira Rossouw Con: M. Steyn Pen: M. Steyn, F. Steyn	(Report)	Pen: Bai

Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 33,262
Referee: Romain Poite

2011-09-22

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)

2011-09-30

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

Quarter-Final

2011-10-09

South Africa	9 – 11	Australia
Pen: M. Steyn (2), Drop: M. Steyn	(Report)	Tries: Horwill

Regional Stadium, Wellington
Attendance: 29,734
Referee: Bryce Lawrence

2015

Pool

2015-09-19

South Africa	–	Japan
Tries:		Tries:

Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton

2015-09-26

South Africa	–	Samoa
Tries:		Pen:

Villa Park, Birmingham

2015-10-03

South Africa	–	Scotland
Tries:

St. James' Park, Newcastle

2015-10-07

South Africa	–	United States
Tries:		Tries:

Olympic Stadium, London

References

Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)

Nations who have competed in the Rugby World Cup by tier

Tier 1 teams	Argentina Australia England France Ireland Italy New Zealand Scotland South Africa Wales

Tier 2 teams	Canada Fiji Georgia Japan Romania Samoa Tonga USA

Tier 3 teams	Ivory Coast Namibia Portugal Russia Spain Uruguay Zimbabwe

Rugby union in South Africa

Governing body

South African Rugby Union

National teams

Men's	Springboks Emerging Springboks 7's Amateurs U-21 U-20 U-19 Schoolboys

Women's	Women's 7's

Competitions

International	South Africa at the Rugby World Cup IRB Sevens World Series South Africa Sevens World Rugby Under 20 Championship Super Rugby

Provincial	Currie Cup Vodacom Cup

Club	SARU Community Cup Varsity Rugby

Youth rugby	Craven Week