STATS & FACTS: Boks’ record-breaking line-up for All Blacks clash
One thing is certain: the Springboks need to record a win over the All Blacks this weekend to keep their hopes alive of winning the Greatest Rivalry.
South Africa suffered a 16-33 defeat to New Zealand in the first Test at Ellis Park last weekend.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a similar starting XV with the only changes seeing Siya Kolisi bracketed alongside Paul de Villiers at flanker, while Handre Pollard and Cobus Reinach will start as the halfback pairing, and Ethan Hooker takes over from Cheslin Kolbe on the wing after he picked up a niggle in the first Test.
Pieter-Steph du Toit will become the 11th player in Springbok history to feature in 100 Tests on Saturday after making his international debut against Wales in 2013. He will also be the second player in as many weeks to achieve this significant milestone after Damian de Allende earned his 100th last weekend.
Prop Ox Nche will join the select club of players who have played 50 Tests.
Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 144 caps.
Should he take the field, Deon Fourie will become the oldest Springbok player to play in a Test match at 39 years old, surpassing Victor Matfield and Schalk Brits who were 38 years old in their last Test matches.
This game will mark Fourie’s first game back since the RWC final in France, which also happened to be against the All Blacks, with the Boks winning the match 12-11 to lift the trophy.
The last time the Springboks met the All Blacks in Cape Town was in the Rugby Championship in 2024, with the Boks winning the match 18-12.
The Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series marks the first time since 1996 that the All Blacks have embarked on a traditional rugby tour to South Africa.
The Springboks have won five of the last seven matches between the teams dating back to August 2023.
With Kolisi starting, the total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 1012 – the highest ever fielded by South Africa. There are 428 caps in the backline, with 584 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 204 caps.
The average caps per player in the backline is 61, the forwards 73, while the players on the bench average 26.
With history, experience and a place in the Greatest Rivalry on the line, the Springboks will know that nothing less than victory will do in Cape Town.
Source: SA Rugby
