Here is what you want to know concerning the defending champions, from their World Cup historical past to all of the gamers of their squad to all their fixtures.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup will get underway on Friday in France, with the Springboks the defending champions.
Siya Kolisi‘s group are in Pool B alongside Ireland, Scotland, Tonga and Romania.
Here is all the pieces you want to learn about South Africa’s Boks.
Population: 60 million
Capitals: Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative)
Coach: Jacques Nienaber
Number of registered gamers: 133,436 (World Rugby)
World Rugby rating: 2 (Aug 28, 2023)
World Cup previous file:
1987: Barred (apartheid)
1991: Barred (apartheid)
1995: Winners
1999: Third place
2003: Quarter-finals
2007: Winners
2011: Quarter-finals
2015: Third place
2019: Winners
Pool matches (all instances SA)
South Africa v Scotland, Sept 10 (5.45pm), Marseille
South Africa v Romania, Sept 17 (3pm), Bordeaux
South Africa v Ireland, Sept 23 (9pm), Paris
South Africa v Tonga, Oct 1 (9pm), Marseille
Squad
Backs: Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams, Faf de Klerk, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Damian Willemse
Forwards: Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie, Siya Kolisi (capt), Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert
Player to look at
Siya Kolisi: The 2019 World Cup-winning captain and flanker can be hoping to steer the Springboks to glory once more. Kolisi has recovered from a critical knee damage final April and is ready to skipper the aspect of their essential Pool B opener in opposition to Scotland.
Aim for the event
Head coach Jacques Nienaber has stopped wanting saying South Africa will win back-to-back World Cup titles, however admits expectations are excessive amongst supporters. “The main difference between the 2019 World Cup and this one is that there is more expectation now,” he says.
The goal should be to retain the trophy, however the draw means the Springboks face a far harder path to glory in France than in Japan 4 years in the past.
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