For Saturday’s Test against Scotland at Murrayfield.
– The total Test caps for the Springbok starting lineup is 430. There are 182 caps in the backline with 248 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 182 caps.
– The average caps per player in the backline is 26, the forwards 31, while the players on the bench average 23. The average age of the starting XV is 26.
Springbok team to play Scotland
– Handré Pollard will become the second most-capped Springbok flyhalf with his 38th cap, surpassing Butch James with 37 caps as a flyhalf. The most-capped Bok flyhalf is Morné Steyn (64).
– South Africa’s overall record against Scotland at Murrayfield is P: 16; W: 12; L: 4; PF: 411; PA: 156; TF: 56; TA: 14; Average score: 26-10; Win%: 75%.
– The top Springbok scorers at Murrayfield are Percy Montgomery (59 points, 17 conversions, five penalty goals); Joost van der Westhuizen (four tries); and Jaco van der Westhuyzen (three drop goals).
– The match records are: Percy Montgomery (26 points and eight conversions); six players have scored two tries; Morné Steyn (four penalty goals) and Jaco van der Westhuyzen (three drop goals).
PREVIEW: Scotland vs Springboks
– South Africa’s overall record against Scotland is P: 26; W: 21; L: 5; PF: 686; PA: 286; TF: 86; TA: 28; Average score: 26-11. Win%: 81%.
– South Africa’s biggest win against Scotland (58 points) was on 6 December 1997 at Murrayfield when they ran in 10 tries to win 68-10. Percy Montgomery scored 26 points, with two tries and eight conversions.
– The Springboks’ biggest loss against Scotland was on 16 November 2002 at Murrayfield when the visitors lost 21-6.
– The first Test match at Murrayfield took place on 25 March 1925, when Scotland beat England 14-11, thereby winning their first Grand Slam in the Five Nations.
– South Africa’s first Test against Scotland at Murrayfield took place on 6 January 1932, when Bennie Osler’s Springboks beat Scotland 6-3 in front of 74,000 spectators.
– Since that day, the Springboks have played 15 Test matches at Murrayfield against Scotland, plus a solitary Test against Spain as part of the 1999 World Cup.
– The present seating capacity of Murrayfield is 67,144.
– The referee is Romain Poite of France, who is handling his 60th Test as a referee. To date, he has refereed 10 Test matches which involved the Springboks. South Africa have won six and lost four.
– The assistant referees are Ben O’Keeffe from New Zealand and Frank Murphy (Ireland), while Ben Skeen (NZ) is the TMO.
