For the Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
– The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 466. There are 146 caps in the backline with 320 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 101 caps.
– The average caps per player in the backline are 21, the forwards 40, while the players on the bench average 13. The average age of the starting XV is 26.
– Handré Pollard needs six points to reach 100 tournament points in the Rugby Championship.
– Eben Etzebeth will play in his record 37th consecutive Test in this tournament.
– Tendai Mtawarira will play in his 20th Test against Australia.
– It will be a first Test against Australia for the following players: André Esterhuizen, Cheslin Kolbe, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Marco van Staden, Embrose Papier and Damian Willemse.
– It will be the Wallabies’ fifth visit to Port Elizabeth for a Test against South Africa. They last played here 45 years ago when John Thornett’s touring side squared the Test series 2-2 in 1963. The previous four Tests were all won by South Africa.
– South Africa’s overall record in the Rugby Championship against Australia is: P: 48; W: 22; L: 23; D: 3; PF: 1,067; PA: 1,057; TF: 101; TA: 104; Average score: 22-22. Win%: 46%.
– South Africa’s overall record against Australia is: P: 86; W: 46; L: 37; D: 3; PF: 1,675; PA: 1,521; TF: 195; TA: 155; Average score: 19-18. Win%: 53%.
– South Africa’s biggest win against Australia was in 2008 in Johannesburg when they ran in eight tries to win by 53-8. On that occasion, Jongi Nokwe became the first Springbok to score four tries in a Test against Australia.
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– The referee is Jerome Garcès of France. He made his first full international appearance in 2010, in a match between England and the Barbarians.
– To date, Garcès has refereed in 45 Tests. The Springboks were involved in 12, of which they were victorious in three.
– The two assistant referees are Wayne Barnes and Matt Carley, while Graham Hughes will be the TMO. All three officials are from England.
– The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was established in 2009 and has a capacity of 46,000.
– The Springboks played their first Test on this ground when they were victorious against New Zealand by 13 points (18-5) on 20 August 2011.
– That was their only victory in the 2011 Tri-Nations (now the Rugby Championship). To date, the Springboks are unbeaten on this ground.
– South Africa have played in five Tests in this stadium. Their record: P: 5; W: 4; D: 1; PF: 143; PA: 53; TF: 14; TA: 5; Average score: 29-11; Win%: 80%.
– The top-scorers at this stadium are Elton Jantjies, 28 (two Tests), Morné Steyn, 27 (two Tests) and JP Pietersen, 15 (three Tests). Morné Steyn holds the record for most points in a match when he scored all points (18) against the All Blacks in 2011.
Photo: Marty Melville/AFP Photo
