Springboks to set special record against All Blacks

Earlier this week, Siya Kolisi was cleared to lead the Springboks against the All Blacks, adding 104 Test caps to the matchday 23.

As a result, on Saturday it will be the most experienced Springbok team ever to take the field, with a combined total of 1012 Test caps in the starting XV.

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.

More milestones to note for Springboks

Springbok utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit will become the 11th player in Bok history to earn 100 Test caps, while prop Ox Nche will join the club of players to earn 50 caps in Cape Town on Saturday 

“Pieter-Steph and Ox have been pillars of strength for us on and off the field, and they both deserve these accolades,” said Rassie Erasmus.

“It is a remarkable achievement to play 100 Test matches, and for Pieter-Steph to deliver week in and week out the way he has over the years is incredible.

“We are equally proud of Ox for the player and team man he has grown into, and to see him reach 50 Test caps is fantastic. That said, as a team, our focus is completely on Saturday’s game, and so is theirs, so our main objective is to deliver on the field. If we can do that, hopefully we will make it a memorable day for them.”

Putting nerves aside

With so much at stake on Saturday, Erasmus said there had been plenty of introspection after last weekend’s loss.

“That’s what this week is for. Luckily in this competition we’ve still got three chances to keep going and get our game better.

“A lot of the things we asked the players to do, they did. The plan didn’t win the game for us, but it’s definitely also not the players who lost the game.

“I’m taking responsibility for some of the decisions we made. We’re a group, but I think it’s a relevant point to explain why we lost, and some of it falls more on me than on the players to be honest.”

Erasmus said although the Boks were still hurting from the defeat they have turned their focus to this weekend’s match, and that as always, the key was to make the country proud.

“I’m definitely nervous again,” he said. “We’re one game down, and if we don’t win this game, we can’t win the series, we can only draw it. Nerves are there for sure. But we’ve been under this kind of pressure a lot, and hopefully we can turn things around this weekend.”

The match kicks off at 17:10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.