Cheslin Kolbe boots his way up Springbok points scorers list

Now that he’s the Springboks’ first-choice kicker, Cheslin Kolbe has shot up the all-time South African points scorers list.

Prior to the last three Tests, Kolbe did his thing out on the wing without the added pressure of having to line up conversions and penalties at posts.

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However, with coach Rassie Erasmus seemingly not trusting flyhalves Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Mannie Libbok off the kicking tee, that duty has fallen to Kolbe.

Kicking duty

Prior to the only three Tests he’s played this year, the last time Kolbe was on kicking duty was in four Tests in late 2022.

In his three Tests to date in 2026 – against England and the All Blacks at Ellis Park and New Zealand at the Cape Town Stadium – the now 32-year-old Kolbe has scored a try and landed nine conversions and seven penalties for a total of 44 points.

Kolbe’s overall points total in his 52 Tests now stands at 170.

That’s good enough for 13th place overall out of the 958 players who have pulled the fames green and gold jersey over the heads.

Kolbe sits a single point behind Andre Pretorius (171), with Feinberg-Mngomezulu on 177 and Jannie de Beer on 181 not far further ahead.

With Kolbe expected to continue with the kicking duties in Saturday’s third Test against the All Blacks at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, he could well pass the three aforementioned players and move into the Top 10.

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Factfile: Cheslin Kolbe

Full names: Cheslin Kolbe

Date of birth: 28 October 1993

School: Brackenfell

Springbok #911

Physical: 1.72m, 74kg

Current age: 32

Test summary: Tests: 52 Tries: 22

First Test: 8 September 2018 – Reserve against Australia at Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

Last Test: 29 August 2026 – Right wing against New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

Teams

South Africa

15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok

New Zealand

TBA

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Christophe Ridley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)