Newskoop Front Row Rugby

Springboks’ Lowest Moment: The 2003 Rugby World Story

Loading player...
South Africa came into the 2003 Rugby World Cup with low expectations. Having suffered 50-point defeats to New Zealand and England in the year leading up to the tournament the Boks were hoping to overachieve. It started well enough with a comprehensive win over Uruguay before the Springboks were exposed against England. Despite consequent wins over tournament debutants Georgia and Samoa, they could not avoid a quarter-final meeting against the All Blacks. After a 29-9 hammering the team returned home and shortly after coach Rudolf Straeuli was sacked, revelations surfaced about a pre-tournament military-style bootcamp Kamp Staaldraad where players were humiliated in the name of team building. In this episode Peter looks back at that dark time in Springbok rugby history and you’ll also hear first-hand from five of the players who were actually there.
28 Sep 2023 English South Africa Rugby · Sports

Other recent episodes

What The Springboks Must Do To Dominate in 2026

2026 promises to be a bumper year for the Springboks. The world champions will feature in the new Nations Championship as well as host arch-rivals the All Blacks in a test series for the first time since 1996. No doubt Dr Rassie Erasmus will want to win all these Tests…
14 Jan 11 min

Is 2026 The Toughest Year in Springbok History?

The Springboks will have their work cut out for them in 2026. The schedule includes Tests against the ever-improving England at home, away dates against France and Ireland and a formidable four-Test series against their greatest rivals, the All Blacks. In this episode Peter reveals the full Springboks fixture list…
12 Jan 8 min

The Highs And Lows Of Flip Van Der Merwe's Springbok Career

Flip Van Der Merwe was a Springbok stalwart at the start of the second decade of the 21st century. In an incredible turn of events, the Springbok lock missed out on two World Cups that overlapped with his career, which also coincided with the emergence of all-time Bok greats like…
7 Jan 31 min

Short, Sweet & Unforgettable: Rudolf Straeuli's Springbok Career

Rudolf Straeuli made his Springbok debut against the All Blacks in 1994. Approximately a year later he helped his country win the Rugby World Cup for the first time. Over a period of about 18 months, Straeuli represented the Springboks in 10 Test matches, but he was not always first…
4 Jan 26 min

Akona Ndungane's Golden Springbok Moments - Front Row Rugby

Akona Ndungane represented the Springboks with distinction from 2006 to 2007. Although his Bok career was a short one, he did help his country win the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In this exclusive interview, Akona shares his highs and lows from a short but impactful Springbok career. This podcast originates…
31 Dec 2025 24 min
All episodes