South Africa Profile

Colours: Green
Nicknames: Springboks, Boks, Bokke
Major Honours: World Champions (1995), Tri-Nations Champions (1998,2004), Mandela Cup Champions (2002)

Coach: Jake White started his coaching career at Jeppe High School for Boys (which he also attended as a scholar) in South Africa, soon becoming the provincial schools coach. Later on he also coached various under-19 and under-21 sides. He coached the Baby Boks to the inaugural International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-21 World Championship title in 2002. His elevation to the senior Springbok position came almost by default. He was not part of the original shortlist, but when added later - after the four original candidates fell short of the requirements - got the job. Won the Tri-Nations in his debut year in 2004 and finished runner-up last year. His record-equaling unbeaten home run of 13 matches came to an end recently against France, but under White's guidance the Springboks have regained much of their respectability in world rugby. White was also named the IRB's Coach of the Year in 2004. The Springboks picked up the Team of the Year prize and promising youngster Schalk Burger walked away with Player of the Year. He is currently in negotiation to extend his contract beyond the 2007 World Cup - although many believe he may soon leave for an elite performance director's job in England. 

Captain: John Smit. He was named by White as captain before the first Bok team was even named. But he has repaid that faith with some strong leadership and is certainly held in high regard within the team. He is the 51st captain of the South African national rugby union team, stands 188cm tall and weighs in at 116kg, while he can play at hooker and prop. Smit went to Pretoria Boys High School where he was head prefect in 1996 and played in the first rugby team from 1994 to 1996. Smit played his first Springbok game in 2000 at the age of 22, when South Africa beat Canada 51-18 at Basil Kenyon Stadium in East London. He was on and off of the reserve bench until 2004 when he was made captain by White. Now Smit is one of South Africa's most successful captains, having lead the Springboks to victory in 16 of the 22 games that he captained, a win percentage of 72 percent.

Player(s) to watch: For the Springboks to function effectively in 2006 the pack, and more particularly the tight five, need to be dominant. That means Victor Matfield has to be on top of his game in the line-outs, Bakkies Botha must be as menacing as ever at the breakdown and forward rushes, while Os du Randt must find some energy for his tiring scrumming legs. But the most crucial positions for the Boks remain at halfback - with Jaco van der Westhuyzen needing to start taking charge at fly-half and either Enrico Januarie or Fourie du Preez (whomever plays) must be brisk and precise with their service to the backs and in their decision making.

Profile: One of the proudest Test nations, South Africa returned from years in the international wilderness in 1992 and three years later took centre stage as the winners of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, a emotional victory on home soil that seemed to unite a bitterly divided nation.

They followed that success with a record-equalling Test run of 17 straight victories under the guidance of coach Nick Mallett in 1997/8, and in 1998 swept the board during the Tri-Nations to set the marker down as the best side in the southern hemisphere and the world at that time.

However, 1999 saw them lose their way somewhat, eventually going out in the RWC'99 semi-finals and the following year saw Mallett resign after a bout of internal politics.

Harry Viljoen was the latest in a procession of coaches to take charge of the once-revered side and like so many of his predecessors every defeat took him a step closer to being given the boot until he announced his resignation in January 2002.

South African bosses then turned to former World Cup winner Rudolf Straeuli who had coached provincial side the Sharks to three Finals (two Currie Cup and one Super 12) but he has since struggled to reverse the Boks' fortunes.

In 2002/3 South Africa suffered from record defeats at the hands of England and New Zealand, finished bottom of the 2003 Tri-Nations, and crashed out of the World Cup with barely a whimper. That was followed by the sacking of coach Rudolf Straeuli, allegations of racism, and the scandal created by 'Kamp Staaldraad', a brutal regime used as World Cup preparation.

Jake White has since calmed things down on the field, and South Africa were a comfortable number two in the world until a Test defeat to France in 2006, but off the field the acrimonious power struggles continue, with the discredited and frequently disgraced President Brian van Rooyen finally ousted in 2006 and Oregan Hoskins elected, but the politicking continuing ceaselessly anyway.