South Africa national rugby union team of the rankings. Below is test matches played by South Africa up until 16 November 2018. Only fixtures recognised as test matches by the South African Rugby Union are listed. ± The Cavaliers was the name given to an unofficial (rebel) New Zealand team which toured South Africa in 1986. The New Zealand Rugby Union did not sanction the team and do not recognise the side as a New Zealand representative team. On 27 October 2018, head coach Rassie Erasmus named a 36-man squad for South Africa's end-of-year outgoing tour. On 5 November 2018, Faf de Klerk was added to
History of the South Africa national rugby union team '99' each Lions player would attack their nearest rival player. The idea was that a South African referee would be unlikely to send off all of the Lions. At the "battle of Boet Erasmus Stadium"—one of the most violent matches in rugby history—JPR Williams famously ran over half of the pitch and launched himself at 'Moaner' van Heerden after such a call. The 1976 All Blacks tour of South Africa went ahead, and the Springboks won by three Tests to one, but coming shortly after the Soweto riots the tour attracted international condemnation and 28 countries boycotted the 1976 Summer