Springboks: Eben Etzebeth’s all-time appearance record as Willie le Roux edges towards 100 Test caps
Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth and an insert of full-back Willie Le Roux.
Seven Springboks have had the honour of running out in the hallowed Green and Gold over 100 times in the team’s history and one of those men is set to raise the bar higher than ever before.
For a long time, Victor Matfield was the most capped Springboks player of all-time, playing his 127th and final game for South Africa in the Bronze final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
However, on 28 September 2024, his former teammate Eben Etzebeth broke his record when earning his 128th cap for the Boks against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
Most-capped Springboks
A physical beast, Etzebeth has been a mainstay in South African colours since he ran out for the first time in 2012 and has been a prolific winner, claiming two World Cups (2019, 2023) in the process.
Even at the age of 33, Etzebeth is one of the first names on the team sheet and that looks like it will not change in the near future.
Based on his form in 2024, Etzebeth looks on track to become the first player to feature 150 times for the Springboks and would follow the likes of Alun Wyn Jones (Wales) and Sam Whitelock (New Zealand) in reaching that milestone.
Centurions
Former full-back Percy Montgomery was the first Springbok to pass the century mark and only managed a couple of extra games to end with an impressive 102 caps.
Further up the list is a pair of captains in the form of Jean de Villiers (109) and John Smit (111), the latter still holds the record for most appearances as skipper with a whopping 83.
The only other centurion was one who went out with a bang, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, whose last act as a Springboks was hoisting the Rugby World Cup in 2019, when they were among the title favourites on the best betting sites for rugby union.
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Future centurion
There is only one Springbok who could reach the century this season and it is none other than two-time World Cup winner Willie le Roux, who has been nothing but a servant to the jersey since his debut.
Despite taking huge flack throughout his Test career Le Roux has shone in Green and Gold, almost single-handedly running the attack. When he reaches the milestone it will be well and truly deserved.
Other active players
There could well be more centurions coming out of the core of the Rassie Erasmus era with inspirational skipper Siya Kolisi (90), Damian de Allende (85), Pieter-Steph du Toit (85) and Steven Kitshoff (83) the next highest-capped players. One or more of these should feature in the next Rugby World Cup.
Springboks’ all-time leading appearances
Updated on 18/11/2024
(Name, caps)
* – Active player
Eben Etzebeth* – 130
Victor Matfield – 127
Bryan Habana – 124
Tendai Mtawarira – 117
John Smit – 111
Jean de Villiers – 109
Percy Montgomery – 102
Willie le Roux* – 98
Siya Kolisi* – 91
Joost van der Westhuizen – 89
Ruan Pienaar – 88
Schalk (jnr) Burger – 86
Damian de Allende* – 86
Pieter-Steph du Toit*- 86
Bakkies Botha – 85
Steven Kitshoff* – 83
Os du Randt – 80
Bismarck du Plessis – 79
Handré Pollard* – 79
Jesse Kriel* – 78
Francois Steyn – 78
Bongi Mbonambi* – 77
Franco Mostert* – 77
Mark Andrews – 77
Fourie du Preez – 76
Francois Louw – 76
Duane Vermeulen – 76
CJ van der Linde – 75
Frans Malherbe* – 76
Malcolm Marx* – 74
Jaque Fourie – 72
JP Pietersen – 70
Juan Smith – 70
Jannie du Plessis – 70
Morné Steyn – 68
Trevor Nyakane* – 68
André Venter – 66
Adriaan Strauss – 66
Lood de Jager* – 66
Breyton Paulse – 64
Danie Rossouw – 63
Vincent Koch* – 60
Faf de Klerk* – 58
Pat Lambie – 56
Ollie le Roux – 54
Pierre Spies – 53
Gürthro Steenkamp – 53
Joe van Niekerk – 52
Albert van den Berg – 51
