For Saturday’s match against France at the Stade de France in Paris.
– The total number of Test caps in the Springbok starting lineup is 411 – 86 in the backline and 325 among the forwards – with a further 143 on the bench.
– The average caps per player in the backline are 12, the forwards 41, while the players on the bench average 18.
– The average age of the starting XV is 26.
– Beast Mtawarira will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok prop to 97. He is the third-most experienced Bok forward behind Victor Matfield and John Smit.
– Handré Pollard needs 12 points to reach 200 points in Tests for South Africa.
– Elton Jantjies needs two conversions to equal Henry Honiball’s career record of 12 conversions (in four Tests) against France. It will be Jantjies’ fourth Test against France, should he be used as a substitute.
– Dan du Preez is set make his Springbok debut should he be used as a substitute, in which case he will be Springbok number No 889.
– Together with his twin brother, Jean-Luc, they would be the 33rd set of Springbok brothers, and only the second set of Springbok twins.
– Together with their father Robert du Preez Snr, they will become the first set of a father with two Springbok sons.
– Stade de France is situated north of Paris in Saint-Denis and was opened in January 1998. The seating capacity of 81,338 makes it the sixth-largest stadium in Europe.
– South Africa played their first Test match at the stadium during the 1999 World Cup, in the quarter-final against England, which the Springboks won 44-21, thanks to a brilliant kicking display by Jannie de Beer. He slotted two conversions, five penalty goals and five drop goals for a personal contribution of 34 points.
– To date, seven Tests were played at this stadium by South Africa: three against France, three against England and one against Argentina.
– South Africa’s overall record at the stadium is: P 7; W 5; L 2; PF: 181; PA: 96; TF: 13; TA: 6; Average score: 26-14; Win%: 71%.
– South Africa’s record against France at the stadium is: P 3; W 1; L 2; PF: 49; PA: 56; TF: 4; TA: 5; Average score: 16-19; Win%: 33%.
– South Africa’s overall record against France: P: 42; W: 25; L: 11; D: 6; PF: 892; PA: 619; TF: 101; TA: 55; Average score: 21-15. Win%: 60%.
Photo: Gallo Images
