South Africa at the Rugby World Cup

South Africa have played at six of the eight Rugby World Cup tournaments, having been unable to compete in the first two tournaments due to a sports boycott during the apartheid era. Following the end of apartheid, they hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup and won the tournament, and were champions again at the 2007 tournament in France. With two tournament wins, they are one of the three best performing teams, along with Australia who have also won twice, and New Zealand with three wins, the only team to do better.

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

England playing South Africa in the 2007 World Cup.

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 Third

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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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1999-10-15

South Africa	39 – 3	Uruguay
Tries: Albert van den Berg (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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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2015

Pool

2015-09-19

South Africa	32 – 34	Japan
Tries:		Tries:

Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton

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2015-09-26

South Africa	46 – 6	Samoa
Tries:		Pen:

Villa Park, Birmingham

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2015-10-03

South Africa	34 –16	Scotland
Tries:

St. James' Park, Newcastle

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2015-10-07

South Africa	64 – 0	United States
Tries:		Tries:

Olympic Stadium, London

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2015-10-17

South Africa	23 – 19	Wales
Tries: F.du Preez Pen: H.Pollard (6/8)		Pen: D.Biggar(2/3) Tries: G.Davies Con:Dan Biggar

Twickenham Referee: Wayne Barnes

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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)