South Africa national Australian rules football team explained

South Africa
Badge:	Flag of South Africa.svg
Union:	AFL South Africa
Nickname:	The Lions
Rank:	9th
Rank Date:	October 2022^[1]
First Game:	New Zealand 163 – 1 South Africa (2002)^[2]
Ic Apps:	6 (first in 2002)
Ic Best:	3rd (2008)

The South African national Australian rules football team, nicknamed the Lions, represent South Africa in the sport of Australian rules football.

The senior side represents the best South African born and developed players as selected from clubs and leagues of AFL South Africa.

South Africa had its international debut at the 2002 Australian Football International Cup but the inexperienced team went through the tournament winless. It registered its first international win in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup against Japan. Between 2007 and 2010, through significant development funding and reciprocal tours, South Africa competed annually against the AFL Academy (Australia's Under 17 team) and against numerous touring amateur teams from Australia. This resulted in a dramatic improvement at senior level, with South Africa achieving its best result, 3rd overall in the 2008 AFIC.

Identity

The team is nicknamed the Lions, although at the 2002 International Cup and 2005 International Cup they were known as the Buffaloes.

They have worn a different jumper at each International Cup, with the first jumper green with gold and red wings, the second green with a gold yoke, and the current jumper based on the Flag of South Africa with a stylised Lion.

History

The team competed in the 2002 Australian Football International Cup in Melbourne, finishing in 11th place.

A much improved Buffaloes outfit (reflecting the development of junior footy in South Africa) achieved 8th ranking at the 2005 International Cup.

The Buffalo's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) is Steven Malinga.

Since 2006, the team has played annually against the "Flying Boomerangs" under 18 indigenous Australian squad, with tours alternating between South Africa and the Northern Territory in Australia.

On 14 April 2007, the Buffaloes played a historic match against Australia's Under 17 squad at North West Cricket Stadium in Potchefstroom, South Africa.^[3] The team was soundly defeated.

Later in that year, the Buffaloes defeated the touring Australian Convicts side.

In the warm-up to the 2008 Australian Football International Cup, South Africa gave a Melbourne-based multicultural team organised by the AFL and known as "Team Africa" a football lesson. Surprising many with their skill and pace, they went on to go undefeated through the first 3 pool rounds including a win against the USA and secured a finals berth against the 2005 runners-up Papua New Guinea. However Papua New Guinea were too good for the much improved South Africans.

Results

2002

International Cup

New Zealand 25.13 (163) def. South Africa 0.1 (1)
Canada 4.11 (38) def. South Africa 1.5 (11)
Samoa 12.15 (87) def. South Africa 1.4 (10)
Ireland 15.8 (98) def. South Africa 3.3 (21)
USA 20.12 (132) def. South Africa 0.4 (4)

2005

International Cup

USA 9.8 (62) def. South Africa 4.10 (34)
South Africa 4.6 (30) def. Japan 4.4 (28)
Ireland 10.9 (69) def. South Africa 1.4 (10)
South Africa 12.12 (84) def. Spain 2.1 (13)
Samoa 7.8 (50) def. South Africa 3.3 (21)
Canada 3.9 (27) def. South Africa 2.6 (18)

2007

Australia (AIS Youth) 23.24 (162) def. South Africa 1.6 (12), North West Cricket Stadium in Potchefstroom
South Africa def. Australian Convicts (by 7 points)

2008

Flying Boomerangs 19.9 (123) def. South Africa 2.11 (23)
Flying Boomerangs 11.10 (76) def. South Africa 8.9 (57)

International Cup

South Africa 14.19 (103) def. Team Africa 3.3 (21) (Practice)
South Africa 20.26 (146) def. China 0.0 (0)
South Africa 9.11 (65) def. Denmark 3.2 (20)
South Africa 8.10 (58) def. USA 5.6 (36)
Papua New Guinea 9.8 (63) def. South Africa 2.3 (15)
South Africa 4.9 (33) def. Ireland 5.2 (32)

2009

Australia (AIS Youth) 23.14 (152) def. South Africa 3.2 (20)

2010

Flying Boomerangs 9.13 (67) def. South Africa (Inland Squad) 8.9 (57), Mohadin Cricket Ground, Potchefstroom
Flying Boomerangs 17.10 (112) def. South Africa (Coastal Squad) 5.6 (36), Nyanga Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Australia (AIS Youth) 26.22 (178) def. South Africa 4.5 (29), Cape Town

2011

International Cup

South Africa 4.2 (26) def. Denmark 1.3 (9), Blacktown Olympic Park
South Africa 18.6 (114) def. China 0.0 (0), Blacktown Olympic Park
South Africa 14.8 (92) def. Japan 1.4 (10), Mona Park, Auburn
South Africa 2.6 (18) def. by United States 7.14 (56), ANZ Stadium
South Africa 7.9 (51) def. Great Britain 2.3 (15), Ransford Oval, Royal Park
South Africa 7.10 (52) def. Nauru 7.4 (46), McAllister Oval, Royal Park

2014

International Cup

South Africa 23.22 (160) def. Pakistan 2.2 (14), Ransford Oval, Royal Park
South Africa 13.4 (82) def. Tonga 2.5 (17), Western Oval, Royal Park
Papua New Guinea 7.8 (50) def. by South Africa 8.11 (59), St. Mary's Oval, Geelong
Ireland 8.5 (53) def. South Africa 4.4 (28), Ransford Oval, Royal Park
New Zealand 6.8 (44) def. South Africa 6.7 (43), Ransford Oval, Royal Park

2017

International Cup

South Africa 4.4 (28) def. by Great Britain 9.11 (65), McAlister Oval, Royal Park
South Africa 2.5 (17) def. by United States 9.10 (64), Wesley College, Glen Waverley
South Africa 4.5 (29) def. Fiji 3.8 (26), Anthony Costa Oval, Geelong
Papua New Guinea 16.17 (113) def. South Africa 0.4 (4), Ransford Oval, Royal Park
South Africa 7.11 (53) def. France 3.3 (21), Ransford Oval, Royal Park