For the Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Salta on Saturday.
– The total of Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 344. There are 120 caps in the backline, with 224 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 113 caps.
– The average caps per player in the backline are 17, the forwards 28 and the players on the bench 14. The average age of the starting XV is 26.
– The Springboks have played two Tests at this stadium before: in 2014, Jean de Villiers’ team won 33-31 and in 2016 the Boks, captained by Adriaan Strauss, lost for the first time in Argentina – 26-24.
– The Springboks have played 12 times against the Pumas in Argentina. Their record is P: 12; W: 10; L: 1; D: 1. PF: 402; PA: 250; TF: 46; TA: 23; Average score: 34-21. Win%: 83%.
– South Africa’s overall record against Argentina: P: 25; W: 22; L: 2; D: 1; PF: 894; PA: 487; TF: 104; TA: 44; Average score: 36-19. Win%: 88%.
– Beast Mtawarira will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok prop, with 92 caps in this position. He is the third-most experienced Bok forward, with only Victor Matfield and John Smit having played in more Tests for South Africa.
– Mtawarira will also play in his 41st Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship Test – he is only the fourth Springbok behind Bryan Habana (53), Jean de Villiers (50) and Victor Matfield (48) to play in 40 or more such matches.
– Mtawarira will also extend his Springbok record to 31 consecutive Tests in the Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship.
– Should the Springboks score 35 or more points in this Test, they will equal the SA record for most consecutive Tests with a score of 35 or more. They won their previous four Tests with scores of 37-14, 37-15, 35-12 (all against France) and 37-15 against Argentina in Port Elizabeth.
– The only time other South Africa achieved the feat, was on 22 November 1997 against France in Paris under the leadership of Gary Teichmann (52-10), following three previous winning scores of 35 or more (61-22 vs Australia; 62-31 vs Italy and 36-32 vs France), as well as a defeat of 55-35 to New Zealand.
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
