Makazole Mapimpi Springboks
Makazole Mapimpi at the try line. Photo: SARugby

Home » Springboks’ top Rugby World Cup try-scorers at every tournament

Springboks’ top Rugby World Cup try-scorers at every tournament

These are the most prolific Springbok try-scorers at every Rugby World Cup since South Africa first participated in 1995. We take a look at every one of the Springboks’ top try-scorers at each of the seven Rugby World Cup tournaments South Africa participated in since readmission. Who do you think will be the country’s most […]

Makazole Mapimpi Springboks
Makazole Mapimpi at the try line. Photo: SARugby

These are the most prolific Springbok try-scorers at every Rugby World Cup since South Africa first participated in 1995.

We take a look at every one of the Springboks’ top try-scorers at each of the seven Rugby World Cup tournaments South Africa participated in since readmission.

Who do you think will be the country’s most prolific try-scorer in France later in 2023?

The Springboks didn’t compete at the first two Rugby World Cup events in 1987 and 1993 due to political reasons.

But since the dawn of democracy in the republic, the national rugby team has gone on to win a record three titles in seven attempts.

LIVE UPDATES: SPRINGBOKS’ ROAD TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

At those seven events the Springboks were present, several South African players have written their names in World Cup folklore with excellent performances.

Below is a list of every one of the Springboks’ top try-scorers at every World Cup from 1995 to 2019.

Backline players rule the roost, with eight of 11 listed players being backs, while only three are forwards.

With that in mind, who do you think will be South Africa’s most prolific try-scorer at the looming 2023 World Cup?

SPRINGBOKS WITH MOST TRIES AT EVERY WORLD CUP

 Year Try-scorer Number of tries
1995 Adriaan Richter and Chester Williams 4
1999 Joost van der Westhuizen 3
2003 Joost van der Westhuizen, Jaque Fourie, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw 3
2007 Bryan Habana 8
2011 Francois Steyn, Francois Hougaard 3
2015 Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen 5
2019 Makazole Mapimpi 6

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SOUTH AFRICA’S TEST FIXTURES IN 2023

Rugby Championship

8 July: Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

✈ 15 July: South Africa vs New Zealand (Mount Smart, Auckland)

29 July: South Africa vs Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

World Cup warm-ups

✈ 5 August: South Africa vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)

✈ 19 August: South Africa vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

✈ 25 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)

Rugby World Cup

✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

✈ 17 September: Springboks vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)

✈ 23 September: South Africa vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris)

✈ 1 October: South Africa vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

Springbok players gather around coach Jacques Nienaber Photo Supplied
Springboks playes gather around coach Jacques Nienaber Photo: Supplied via SA Rugby website.