▁they ▁defeated ▁England ▁ 1 5 – 6 ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁final . ▁As ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁World ▁Cup ▁tournament ▁the ▁Spring b oks ▁were ▁promoted ▁to ▁first ▁place ▁in ▁the ▁IR B ▁World ▁Rank ings , ▁a ▁position ▁they ▁held ▁until ▁July ▁the ▁following ▁year ▁when ▁New ▁Zealand ▁reg ained ▁the ▁top ▁spot . ▁They ▁were ▁named ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁World ▁Team ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁at ▁the ▁La ure us ▁World ▁Sports ▁Awards . ▁South ▁Africa ▁then ▁won ▁a ▁third ▁World ▁Cup ▁title ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 9 , ▁defe ating ▁England ▁ 3 2 – 1 2 ▁in ▁the ▁final . ▁As ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁this , ▁the ▁South ▁African ▁National ▁Rugby ▁Union ▁Team ▁were ▁named ▁ 2 0 2 0 ▁World ▁Team ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁at ▁the ▁La ure us ▁World ▁Sports ▁Awards ▁for ▁a ▁second ▁time . ▁ ▁The ▁Spring b oks ▁also ▁comp ete ▁in ▁the ▁annual ▁Rugby ▁Championship ▁( former ly ▁the ▁Tri - N ations ), ▁along ▁with ▁southern - hem is phere ▁counter parts ▁Argentina , ▁Australia ▁and ▁New ▁Zealand . ▁They ▁have ▁won ▁this ▁championship ▁on ▁four ▁occasions ▁in ▁twenty - four ▁compet itions ▁and ▁are ▁the ▁only ▁team ▁to ▁have ▁won ▁a ▁version ▁of ▁the ▁competition ▁and ▁the ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁in ▁the ▁same ▁year . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁First ▁international s : ▁ 1 8 9 1 – 1 9 1 3 ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁British ▁Is les ▁tour