Eben Etzebeth to equal Victor Matfield’s Springbok Test caps record on Saturday

Eben Etzebeth will in all likelihood tie Victor Matfield’s record of most Springbok Test caps on Saturday, 21 September against Argentina.

Kick-off in Santiago is at 23:00 (SA time).

Coach Rassie Erasmus will name his 23-man matchday squad around 20:00 (SA time) on Tuesday, s reported by The South African website.

Matfield currently holds the record for Springbok Test caps with 127, with Etzebeth on 126, two ahead of former winger Bryan Habana.

With the Springboks set to play five more Tests in 2024 (including the clash against the Pumas), assuming he stays injury-free, Etzebeth will assume the outright mantle of most-capped Springbok before the year is out.

He could potentially break the record in the ‘return’ Rugby Championship fixture against Argentina on Saturday, 28 September at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Etzebeth still has time on his side considering he will only turn 33 in late October.

Below, every Springbok – past and present – to have played 80 or more Tests ahead of the tour to Argentina:

PlayerTestsTriesVictor Matfield1277Eben Etzebeth *1266Bryan Habana12467Tendai Mtawarira1172John Smit1118Jean de Villiers10927Percy Montgomery10225Willie le Roux *9715Joost van der Westhuizen8938Ruan Pienaar888Siya Kolisi *8811Schalk Burger8616Bakkies Botha857Damian De Allende *8411Steven Kitshoff *832Pieter-Steph du Toit *839Os du Randt805* Denotes still active

Springbok squad for Argentina tour

Props: Thomas du Toit (Bath), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Ox Nche (Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls)

Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Bulls)

Loose forwards: Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)

Utility forward: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls)

Scrumhalves: Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Lions)

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)

Centres: Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles)

Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks)

Utility back: Canan Moodie (Bulls)

How many Tests will Eben Etzebeth play before hanging up his boots?

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