It's been four years since Siya Kolisi, the South African rugby team's first black captain, lifted the Webb Ellis Cup aloft in Yokohama, and in the autumn of 2023, the Springboks headed to France with the aim of retaining their title and sealing a record fourth Rugby World Cup victory in the process.
On this day, the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time, after defeating England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. 🏆
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 2, 2020
Stay tuned for more Rugby World Cup memories throughout the day! #StrongerTogether@MTNza pic.twitter.com/jDszXB8heL
Jacques Nienaber's side began last autumn with losses to European heavyweights Ireland and France, but a 63-21 drubbing of Italy got their campaign back on track before closing out the year with a 27-13 win at Twickenham that proved to be the final game in charge for England coach Eddie Jones.
#Springboks flyer Kurt-Lee Arendse has been dancing his way past defenders all year 🕺🏽 #StrongerTogether #StrongerForever #CastleOutgoingTour #ENGvRSA pic.twitter.com/7STwbVVmDi
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 29, 2022
The shortened 2023 Rugby Championship began with a bang for South Africa, who put on a show in Pretoria to smash Australia 43-12, with Kurt-Lee Arendse crossing for three of their six tries. The Boks were second-best the following week in Auckland, losing 35-20 to the All Blacks, but responded to edge Argentina 22-21 in Johannesburg and finish second in the table.
If their form was inconsistent in the 12 months approaching the World Cup, the three games directly before the tournament struck fear down the sides of all other 19 competing nations. A 24-13 defeat of Argentina was closely-fought, but their next contest was anything but, putting Wales to the sword with an eight-try, 52-16 battering in Cardiff.
If their Welsh thumping wasn't a big enough statement of intent for the Springboks, their result the following week certainly fits the bill, inflicting a defeat of record-breaking margin on the mighty All Blacks and notching five tries in a 35-7 victory at Twickenham.
With their tails up, South Africa were placed in the tough Pool B for the World Cup, alongside Scotland, Romania, Tonga, and world number one side Ireland. Ireland proved to be their only defeat in the group stages and that was enough to secure a quarterfinal matchup with hosts France.
The Springboks' contest with Les Bleus will live long in the memory for any rugby fan, as a nail-biting, end-to-end thrill ride saw South Africa score four tries to three, sealing a 29-28 victory to dump the hosts out of their own tournament. That set up a semifinal clash with fellow 2019 finalists England and again, the Boks dug deep, scoring a late try, conversion and penalty apiece to overturn a nine-point deficit and win 16-15.
The All Blacks awaited in the final, meeting South Africa in the decider for the first time since 1995, and just like that sunlit day in Johannesburg, the damp October evening in Saint-Denis produced another pulsating contest. Handre Pollard's four first-half penalties proved to be the game-breaking difference for the Boks, who despite being kept scoreless in the second half, held on to win 12-11 and seal a record-breaking fourth Rugby World Cup title!
South Africa Rugby Union results 2023
| Opponent | Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (H) | Jul 9, 2023 | 43-12 W | 2023 Rugby Championship |
| New Zealand (A) | Jul 15, 2023 | 35-20 L | 2023 Rugby Championship |
| Argentina (H) | Jul 29, 2023 | 22-21 W | 2023 Rugby Championship |
| Argentina (A) | Aug 5, 2023 | 13-24 W | RWC2023 warm-up |
| Wales (A) | Aug 19, 2023 | 16-52 W | RWC2023 warm-up |
| New Zealand (N) | Aug 25, 2023 | 35-7 W | RWC2023 warm-up |
| Scotland | Sept 10, 2023 | 18-3 W | Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool B |
| Romania | Sept 17, 2023 | 76-0 W | Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool B |
| Ireland | Sept 23, 2023 | 8-13 L | Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool B |
| Tonga | Oct 1, 2023 | 49-18 W | Rugby World Cup 2023 Pool B |
| France | Oct 15, 2023 | 29-28 W | Rugby World Cup 2023 Quarter-Final |
| England | Oct 21, 2023 | 16-15 W | Rugby World Cup 2023 Semi-Final |
| New Zealand | Oct 28, 2023 | 12-11 W | Rugby World Cup 2023 Final |
How did South Africa win the 2019 Rugby World Cup?
South Africa's bid to go back-to-back in France will need them to draw on the magic and power that saw them defeat England in Yokohama four years ago. However, the Springboks' 2019 campaign didn't get off to an ideal start.
Just like in 2023, the Springboks were joined in Pool B by the side then-top of World Rugby's rankings, and lost 23-13 to New Zealand in their opening game. They subsequently recorded big victories over Namibia, Italy, Canada and quarter-finalists Japan to reach the last four, and edged Wales 19-16 to set up a showdown with Eddie Jones' England.
Despite England being favourites following their 19-7 semi-final win over the All Blacks, the Boks saved their best performance for last, never going behind in the match and scoring two late tries through Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe to seal a 32-12 victory a third World Cup success.
MORE: Every side's route to the final as Rugby World Cup 2023 nears kick-off