▁in ▁a ▁t ough ▁friendly ▁encounter . ▁After ▁initial ▁optim ism ▁leading ▁into ▁the ▁competition ▁the ▁South ▁Afr icans ▁would ▁face ▁T ong a ▁in ▁their ▁first ▁world ▁cup ▁fi xture ▁and ▁be ▁compreh ens ively ▁be aten ▁ 6 6 – 1 8 . ▁The ▁following ▁world ▁cup ▁matches ▁would ▁add ▁further ▁disappoint ment ▁and ▁dimin ish ▁all ▁optim ism ▁the ▁South ▁Afr icans ▁originally ▁had ▁leading ▁into ▁the ▁competition ▁with ▁a ▁following ▁loss ▁to ▁Pap ua ▁New ▁Guinea ▁ 1 6 - 0 ▁and ▁a ▁heavy ▁loss ▁to ▁the ▁French ▁which ▁saw ▁captain ▁Jam ie ▁Blo em ▁sin - bin ned ▁and ▁investig ated ▁following ▁comments ▁made ▁about ▁the ▁ref eree ▁after ▁the ▁match . ▁▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁Italian ▁tour ▁After ▁a ▁second ▁disappoint ing ▁World ▁Cup ▁the ▁side ▁would ▁again ▁begin ▁playing ▁irregular ly ▁with ▁one ▁off ▁fi xt ures ▁over ▁the ▁next ▁several ▁years ▁usually ▁against ▁tour ing ▁national ▁sides ▁but ▁it ▁would ▁not ▁be ▁until ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁when ▁they ▁would ▁again ▁undert ake ▁another ▁tour ▁to ▁foreign ▁soil . ▁A ▁tour ▁to ▁Italy ▁would ▁be ▁undert aken ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁that ▁saw ▁the ▁South ▁Afr icans ▁play ▁in ▁two ▁tests ▁and ▁gain ing ▁their ▁largest ▁victory ▁to ▁date ▁along ▁with ▁appearing ▁in ▁a ▁separate ▁rugby ▁league ▁n ines ▁competition ▁in ▁Mont el an ico . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁Category : R ugby ▁league ▁in ▁South ▁Africa ▁South ▁Africa ▁national ▁rugby ▁league ▁team ▁National ▁rugby ▁league ▁team