Eben Etzebeth inches closer to Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test caps record
Eben Etzebeth will move within one match of Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test cap record at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, 7 September.
Etzebeth was named in the starting XV for the Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town this weekend by coach Rassie Erasmus.
Kick-off is at 17:00.
Victor Matfield leads the way – for now
Matfield holds the record for Springbok Test caps with 127, with Etzebeth currently on 125, one ahead of former wing Bryan Habana.
With the Springboks set to play five more Tests in 2024 (after this weekend), assuming he stays injury-free, Etzebeth will assume the mantle of most-capped Springbok before the year is out.
He could tie Matfield in Argentina against the Pumas on Saturday, 21 September and then potentially break the record a week later in Nelspruit.
Etzebeth has time on his side considering he will only turn 33 in late October.
Below, Springboks to have played 80 or more Tests before Saturday’s match:
PlayerTestsTriesVictor Matfield1277Eben Etzebeth *1256Bryan Habana12467Tendai Mtawarira1172John Smit1118Jean de Villiers10927Percy Montgomery10225Willie le Roux *9615Joost van der Westhuizen8938Ruan Pienaar888Siya Kolisi *8711Schalk Burger8616Bakkies Botha857Damian De Allende *8311Steven Kitshoff *832Pieter-Steph du Toit *829Os du Randt805* Denotes still active
TEAMS
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo Am
New Zealand
15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams
Substitutes: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett
How many Tests will Eben Etzebeth play before hanging up his boots?
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