RWC 2023 countdown: Springboks factfile

The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets underway on Friday in France, with the Springboks the defending champions.

Siya Kolisi‘s team are in Pool B alongside Ireland, Scotland, Tonga and Romania.

Here is everything you need to know about South Africa’s Boks.

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 (Aug 28, 2023)

World Cup past record:

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 times 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 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.

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.