Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
As two-time Rugby World Cup Champions, South Africa are among the giants of rugby both past and present. The Springboks have the means of defeating all opposition and are one of the few teams to have the longevity to get through the marathon that is a World Cup tournament.
Unable to compete at RWCs 1987 and 1991 due to a sport’s boycott of the apartheid regime, South Africa debuted in 1995 and changed the course of rugby forever. They were the first country to host alone, but more importantly, would win at home with captain François Pienaar lifting the Webb Ellis Cup alongside the democratically-elected President Nelson Mandela.
Twelve years later South Africa would win again, becoming the first team to win a World Cup in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Four months out from Japan 2019 the signs are that a team will be assembled that has the means of acquiring a third title.
WORLD CUP HISTORY
| RWC | FINAL PLACING | RESULTS |
| 1987 | Did Not Participate | – |
| 1991 | Did Not Participate | – |
| 1995 | Champions | Won vs Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Romania, Samoa |
| 1999 | Third Place | Won vs England, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Uruguay Lost vs Australia |
| 2003 | Quarter Finals | Won vs Georgia, Samoa, Uruguay Lost vs England, New Zealand |
| 2007 | Champions | Won vs Argentina, Australia, England (x2), Samoa, Tonga, USA |
| 2011 | Quarter Finals | Won vs Fiji, Namibia, Samoa, Wales Lost vs Australia |
| 2015 | Third Place | Won vs Argentina, Samoa, Scotland, Wales, USA Lost vs Japan, New Zealand |
Overall record: Wins 30, Losses 6
RWC 2019 SCHEDULE
South Africa have a mixed match schedule which sees all matches being played on Honshu Island. Games 1, 2, and 3 will all be weekend fixtures with the final pool match seeing the Springboks play on a Tuesday. While it is not ideal overall the structure it is highly favorable and so too is the match order.
The Springboks begin against New Zealand on day two of the tournament. Their match will take place at the International Stadium in Yokohama. Regardless of the placing of this fixture the strongest South African lineup would all feature. Having it first means there will be no risk of injuries.
Game two against Namibia will require a friendly 300 km trip south to Toyota. The positioning of this match, after that of the fixture against New Zealand is ideal. The Springboks will be free to rotate and retain players for their third fixture against Italy.
The Springboks’ third pool match will be played six days later in Shizuoka, 156 km east of Toyota. It is to be against Italy, a side who claimed a famous win over them in 2016. Based on that result in Florence, in addition to the fixtures before and after this will be a match in which South Africa will take no chances.
The projected all-in approach against the Europeans will likely mean South Africa return to their wider roster for their final pool match. It is to be on a three day turn-around, the lowest permitted by World Rugby. The match against Canada will require medium range travel of 365 km from Shizuoka to Kobe.
Assuming South Africa finish in the top two of their pool they will then have the luxury of having completed their matches five days before the end of the group stage. South Africa’s pool campaign concludes on October 8 while their potential Quarter Finals opponents Ireland, Japan, or Scotland finish on October 12 and 13.
| DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE |
| Sat, Sept 21 | New Zealand | International Stadium, Yokohama |
| Sat, Sep 28 | Namibia | Toyota Stadium, Toyota |
| Fri, Oct 4 | Italy | Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka |
| Tues, Oct 8 | Canada | Noevir Stadium, Kobe |
PREDICTED TRAVELING 31
Forwards: Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Lions), Bongi Mbonambi (Stormers), Akker van der Merwe (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Stormers), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Trevor Nyakane (Bulls), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Gloucester, UK), RG Snyman (Bulls), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Siya Kolisi (Stormers), François Louw (Bath, UK), Duane Vermeulen (Stormers), Warren Whiteley (Lions)
Backs: Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, UK), Embrose Papier (Bulls), Ivan van Zyl (Sharks), Elton Jantjies (Lions), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Stormers), André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Bulls), Aphiwe Dyantyi (Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, FR), Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks), Curwin Bosch (Sharks), Willie le Roux (Wasps, UK)
PREDICTED MATCH DAY 23
1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Frans Malherbe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Warren Whiteley, 9 Faf de Klerk, 10 Handré Pollard, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 15 Willie le Roux
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Curwin Bosch
Key Back: Aphiwe Dyantyi
Key Forward: Malcolm Marx
Talisman: Eben Etzebeth
RWC 2019 PREDICTION
South Africa’s RWC 2015 campaign saw the Springboks winning Bronze, a remarkable achievement considering their opening match was a loss against Japan. Since then the Springboks have had both massive highs and lows including a defeat against Italy and a win over the All Blacks in Wellington, New Zealand.
All told, South Africa is a team to be taken extremely seriously. There are world class players across all positions and genuine depth to make them a truly formidable force. When factored in with the match schedule the Springboks have a clear route out of their group and deep into the play-off’s.
In Japan 2019 South Africa will open up by losing against New Zealand but will recover to defeat Namibia, Italy, and Canada. This would mean the Springboks finish as Pool B runners-up and advance to the Quarter Finals to face the winner of Pool A, thereby a likely final eight clash against Ireland awaits South Africa.
The Springboks would be favorites to win this projected Quarter Final and would thereby advance to the Semi Finals with the projected opponent being Wales. The Africans would be favorites to win to qualify for the RWC 2019 Final. The projected final would be against the winner of England, and New Zealand.
Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England
Week 5 – Namibia
Week 6 – Wales
Week 7 – Samoa
Week 8 – France
Week 9 – South Africa
Week 10 – Georgia
