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.

Victor Matfield is the most capped Springbok in history having represented the side on 127 occasions in two stints, the second of which saw the former line-out general come out of retirement to take part in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The great lock debuted for the Springboks in 2001 and went on to win the Rugby World Cup in 2007 under the tutelage of Jake White.

The challenger

Bearing down on Matfield’s record is one of the greatest to ever put on the jersey in the form of enforcer Eben Etzebeth, who equalled the 127 cap record for the Springboks and is well poised to surpass his former second-row partner in Nelspruit this weekend.

The physical superstar 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 32 Etzebeth is one of the first names on the team sheet and that looks like it will not change in the near future. In fact, the second-row could surpass Matfield if he was to play in the final two Rugby Championship games against Argentina.

Etzebeth’s esteem as a Springboks legend will only strengthen when, rather than if, he takes the all-time record for himself.

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.

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 (88), Damian de Allende (84) and Steven Kitshoff (83) the next highest-capped players.

Springboks’ all-time leading appearances

(Name, caps)* – Active player

Victor Matfield – 127

Eben Etzebeth* – 127

Bryan Habana – 124

Tendai Mtawarira – 117

John Smit – 111

Jean de Villiers – 109

Percy Montgomery – 102

Willie le Roux* – 97

Joost van der Westhuizen – 89

Siya Kolisi* – 88

Ruan Pienaar – 88

Schalk (jnr) Burger – 86

Bakkies Botha – 85

Damian de Allende* – 84

Steven Kitshoff* – 83

Pieter-Steph du Toit*- 83

Os du Randt – 80

Bismarck du Plessis – 79

Francois Steyn – 78

Mark Andrews – 77

Fourie du Preez – 76

Francois Louw – 76

Franco Mostert – 76

Duane Vermeulen – 76

CJ van der Linde – 75

Handré Pollard* – 76

Frans Malherbe* – 75

Jesse Kriel* – 76

Bongi Mbonambi* – 74

Jaque Fourie – 72

JP Pietersen – 70

Juan Smith – 70

Jannie du Plessis – 70

Malcolm Marx* – 72

Morné Steyn – 68

Trevor Nyakane* – 68

André Venter – 66

Adriaan Strauss – 66

Lood de Jager* – 66

Breyton Paulse – 64

Danie Rossouw – 63

Faf de Klerk* – 58