▁by ▁record ▁marg ins ▁to ▁England ▁( 3 – 5 3 ), ▁France , ▁Scotland ▁and ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁At ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup , ▁they ▁were ▁elimin ated ▁in ▁the ▁quarter - final ▁round ▁– ▁their ▁worst ▁showing ▁to ▁date . ▁ ▁Following ▁wins ▁during ▁the ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁t ours , ▁the ▁B oks ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Tri ▁Nations ▁Series . ▁The ▁Spring b oks ▁won ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁IR B ▁International ▁Team ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁award . ▁The ▁Spring b oks ▁finished ▁second ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁Tri - N ations . ▁▁ ▁The ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Spring b oks ▁lost ▁to ▁France , ▁ending ▁their ▁long ▁und efe ated ▁home ▁record . ▁A ▁poor ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Tri ▁Nations ▁Series ▁included ▁two ▁losses ▁to ▁the ▁Wall ab ies . ▁Co ach ▁J ake ▁White ▁told ▁the ▁press ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁that ▁he ▁had ▁been ▁unable ▁to ▁pick ▁some ▁white ▁players ▁for ▁his ▁squad ▁" because ▁of ▁transformation " — a ▁reference ▁to ▁the ▁AN C ▁government ' s ▁policies ▁to ▁red ress ▁ra cial ▁im bal ances . ▁▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁victory ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁in ▁France , ▁the ▁Spring b oks ▁won ▁their ▁pool . ▁The ▁Spring b oks ▁then ▁defeated ▁F iji ▁ 3 7 – 2 0