Bok numbers
A look at a few Springbok statistics ahead of their clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park.
The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 582 Test caps (334 in the backline and 248 in the forwards), with a further 131 caps worth of experience on the bench.
South Africa and New Zealand have played each other 85 times since 1921, with the Springboks winning 34 tests, losing 48, with three drawn. The Springboks have scored 1,313 points and 127 tries and conceded 1,612 points and 168 tries for an average score of 15-19.
Jean de Villiers will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok centre, with 75 Tests in this position. He also moved into fourth place on the list of most-capped Springboks of all time when he played in his 90th Test last weekend.
Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 88 Tests in this position and if he scores a try, will extend his record of 51 Test tries for South Africa. He also just needs one try to equal the Rugby Championship record of Christian Cullen who scored 16 tries in his Rugby Championship (Tri-Nations) career.
Morné Steyn will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok flyhalf, with 47 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, Steyn will extend his record of seven Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa. He will also extend his Springbok career record of 112 points against New Zealand in Tests.
Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis will extend their SA record of playing together in 27 Tests for South Africa. If he scores a try, Bismarck will also extend his own record of seven Test tries for South Africa as a hooker.
If he goes on and scores a try, Gurthrö Steenkamp will extend his own record of six tries as a prop for South Africa.
The referee is Romain Poite of France. This will be his third Test involving South Africa. The Springboks have won both previous encounters. His last game was the Test against Scotland on 15 June, at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit where South Africa beat Scotland 30-17.
Springbok Test match records at Eden Park in Auckland:
Most points – 15 (5 penalties) by Braam van Straaten on 25 August, 2001.
Most tries – three by Ray Mordt on 12 September, 1981 (tries were still worth four points at that time).
Most conversions – two by Naas Botha on 12 September, 1981.
Most penalty goals – five by Braam van Straaten on 25 August, 2001.
Most drop goals – one by Gerhard Morkel on 27 August, 1921.
The Springboks and New Zealand have played nine time at Eden Park with the Boks only winning two – in 1921 (9-5) and in 1937 (17-6). In 1994 the game ended in a draw, 18-18.
