For the third Test against England at Newlands on Saturday.
– The total number of Test caps in the Springbok starting lineup is 348. There are 78 caps in the backline and 270 among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 126.
– The average caps per player in the backline is 11 and the forwards 34, while the players on the bench average 16. The average age of the starting XV is 26.
– The first Test at this historic venue took place 127 years ago, when Bill Maclagan’s British Isles team played the last Test of their 1891 tour to South Africa.
– The Springboks have played in 53 Tests at Newlands. Their record is: W: 35; L: 16; D: 2; PF: 1 038; PA: 662; TF: 134; TA: 70; Average score: 20-12; Win%: 66%.
– Saturday’s encounter will be the third between the countries in Cape Town. England’s first Test against the Boks there was on 11 June 1994, the last match of their eight-game tour to South Africa.
– On 4 July 1998, England played a solitary Test at Newlands, after one Test against Australia and two against New Zealand during the previous month, the first tour for England under coach Clive Woodward. The Boks won 18-0.
– With England failing to score a try in their previous two Tests at Newlands, the Springbok record against them at this venue is: P: 2; W: 2; PF: 45; PA: 9; TF: 4; TA: 0.
– England’s best performance against South Africa was in 2002 at Twickenham, when they won 53-3. It is the second biggest defeat in Springbok history.
– South Africa’s biggest win against England was achieved at Bloemfontein in 2007 with a winning margin of 48 (58-10).
– Following last week’s Test in Bloemfontein, where they clinched the series, the Boks remain unbeaten in home series against England, stretching this run to six series triumphs.
– South Africa’s record against England in South Africa is: P: 15; W: 11; L: 3; D: 1; PF: 427; PA: 264; TF: 43; TA: 18; Average score: 28-18; Win%: 73%.
– The overall record of the Springboks against England is P: 40; W: 25; L: 13; D: 2; PF: 866; PA: 680; TF: 81; TA: 53; Average score: 22-17; Win%: 63%.
SUPERBRU: Springboks or England?
– The referee is Glen Jackson of New Zealand. He was born on 23 October 1975 in Feilding, and made his Test debut as a referee on 10 November 2012 in a match between England and Fiji at Twickenham.
– Jackson has refereed 26 Tests, of which six involved the Springboks. South Africa won five and one was drawn.
– The assistant referees are Romain Poite of France and Ben O’Keeffe of New Zealand. The TMO is Simon McDowell of Ireland.
Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
