▁a ▁state ▁of ▁mind ▁rather ▁than ▁an ▁actual ▁physical ▁challenge . ▁ ▁Records ▁ ▁List ▁of ▁South ▁Africa ▁national ▁rugby ▁union ▁team ▁records ▁ ▁Rugby ▁Championship ▁South ▁Africa ' s ▁only ▁year ly ▁tournament ▁is ▁The ▁Rugby ▁Championship ▁( former ly ▁Tri - N ations ), ▁involving ▁Australia ▁and ▁New ▁Zealand ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁with ▁Argentina ▁joining ▁the ▁competition ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 2 . ▁South ▁Africa ▁has ▁won ▁the ▁tournament ▁four ▁times ; ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁and ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁South ▁Africa ▁also ▁particip ates ▁in ▁the ▁Mand ela ▁Challenge ▁Pl ate ▁with ▁Australia , ▁and ▁the ▁Fre edom ▁Cup ▁with ▁New ▁Zealand ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁Rugby ▁Championship . ▁ ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁ ▁South ▁Africa ▁did ▁not ▁particip ate ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁World ▁Cu ps ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁sport ing ▁boy c ott ▁that ▁apart heid ▁brought ▁against ▁them . ▁South ▁Africa ' s ▁introduction ▁to ▁the ▁event ▁was ▁as ▁hosts . ▁They ▁defeated ▁def ending ▁champions ▁Australia ▁ 2 7 – 1 8 ▁in ▁the ▁opening ▁match , ▁and ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁defeat ▁the ▁All ▁Black s ▁ 1 5 – 1 2 ▁after ▁extra ▁time ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 5 ▁Rugby ▁World ▁Cup ▁Final , ▁with ▁a ▁drop ▁goal ▁from ▁ 4 0 ▁metres ▁by ▁Jo el ▁S trans ky . ▁ ▁In