A look at all the key Springbok and South Africa stats, facts and numbers ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
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Population: 60 million
Capitals: Bloemfontein (judicial), Cape Town (legislative), Pretoria (administrative)
Coach: Jacques Nienaber
Number of registered players: 133 436 (World Rugby)
World Rugby ranking: 2
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Rugby World Cup record
1987: Barred
1991: Barred
1995: Winners
1999: Third place
2003: Quarter-finals
2007: Winners
2011: Quarter-finals
2015: Third place
2019: Winners
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Pool matches (all times SA)
South Africa v Scotland, September 10 (17:45), South Africa v Romania, September 17 (15:00), South Africa v Ireland, September 23 (21:00), South Africa v Tonga, October 1 (21:00)
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Squad
Backs: Jaden Hendrikse, Grant Williams (both Sharks), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles/JPN), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier/FRA), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath/JPN), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Damian de Allende (Saitama Wild Knights/JPN), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins/ENG), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles/JPN), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Damian Willemse (Stormers)
Forwards: Vincent Koch, Ox Nche (both Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (Ulster/IRL), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92/FRA), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears/JPN), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Jean Kleyn (Munster/IRL), RG Snyman (Munster/IRL), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Marvin Orie (Perpignan/FRA), Siya Kolisi (Racing 92/FRA, capt), Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Jubilo/JPN), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz/JPN), Duane Vermeulen (unattached), Jasper Wiese (Leicester/ENG), Deon Fourie (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat/JPN)
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Player to watch
Siya Kolisi. The 2019 World Cup-winning captain and flanker will be hoping to lead the Springboks to glory again. Kolisi has recovered from a serious knee injury last April and is set to skipper the side in their crucial Pool B opener against Scotland.
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Aim for the tournament
Head coach Jacques Nienaber has stopped short of saying South Africa will win back-to-back World Cup titles, but admits expectations are high among supporters.
“The main difference between the 2019 World Cup and this one is that there is more expectation now,” he says.
The aim must be to retain the trophy, but the draw means the Springboks face a far tougher path to glory in France than in Japan four years ago.
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By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse