South Africa have a long, distinguished and at times turbulent history - but in recent times the national team have never had it so good.

The Boks, as they are affectionately known by their passionate supporters, were for many years isolated from international competition due to apartheid (where racial segregation was enforced by law), this meant they were excluded from the inaugural tournament in 1987 and again in 1991. Since being readmitted to the fold by the International Rugby Board following the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in the early 1990s, they have established themselves as one of the game's superpowers.

This was first evidenced by the Springboks lifting the Rugby World Cup on home turf in 1995, when they beat the All Blacks 15-12 in extra-time thanks to Joel Stransky's drop-goal at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The day is best remembered for the indelible image of skipper Francois Pienaar receiving the Webb Ellis Trophy from a beaming President Mandela clad in a replica of Pienaar's shirt.

The Springboks lost at the semi-final stage in 1999 and failed to progress past the quarter-finals in 2003 but they reigned supreme again in 2007 with a 15-6 victory over England in Paris.

Their international nemesis, however, has proved to be the touring British Lions, most notably in 1974 when the Boks were hammered in three of four Test matches by Willie John McBride's tourists and they also lost the 1997 series which led to the sacking of then-coach Carel Du Plessis.

History was made in early 2008 when the Springboks named their first non-white coach, Peter De Villiers, who remains the current incumbent.