Springbok teams for all FOUR Rugby World Cup finals: Which is best?
The Springboks will play in their fourth Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, 28 October against the All Blacks in Paris.
The Springboks will play in their fourth Rugby World Cup final on Saturday, 28 October against the All Blacks at the Stade de France in Paris.
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Kick-off is at 21:00 (SA time).
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The Springboks are undefeated in Rugby World Cup finals having beaten New Zealand 15-12 (after extra time) in 1995, and England 15-6 and 32-12 in 2007 and 2019, respectively.
The All Blacks also boast three previous Rugby World Cup titles, having emerged victorious in 1987, 2011 and 2015.
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A look at the Springbok line-ups for the four finals makes for interesting reading.
The number of players permitted for selection has changed over the years from 21 (in 1995) to 22 (in 2007) to 23 in both 2019 and 2023.
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WHICH SPRINGBOK TEAM DO YOU CONSIDER THE BEST?
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1995
15 Andre Joubert, 14 James Small, 13 Japie Mulder, 12 Hennie le Roux, 11 Chester Williams, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Mark Andrews, 7 Ruben Kruger, 6 Francois Pienaar (captain), 5 Hannes Strydom, 4 Kobus Wiese, 3 Balie Swart, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Os du Randt
Substitutes: 16 Nake Drotske, 17 Brendan Venter, 18 Rudolf Straeuli, 19, Johan Roux, 20 Garry Pagel, 21 Gavin Johnson
2007
15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt
Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Wikus van Heerden, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Andre Pretorius, 22 Wynand Olivier
2019
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duan Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 ood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn
2023
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jasper Wiese, 23 Willie le Roux