Springboks: Skipper Etzebeth edging closer to sensational all-time caps record

Eben Etzebeth will lead the Springboks out on the occasion of his 111th test cap against New Zealand’s All Blacks in a crunch Rugby Championship clash.

BOKS vs ALL BLACKS: All you need to know ahead of kickoff

EMOTIONAL ETZEBETH INCHING CLOSER TO SPRINGBOKS RECORD

It’s been a difficult week for Eben Etzebeth, to say the least, after the death of his father. The veteran lock forward has elected to play on Saturday despite that personal family bereavement, and the whole of South Africa will be behind him. Etzebeth has 110 test caps to his name, and he’ll come one closer to Victor Matfield’s all-time record of 127 in the green and gold jersey.

It feels inevitable that 31-year-old Etzebeth will eclipse that figure with time to spare. When he reaches 111 tomorrow he’ll go level with former skipper John Smit. Then, only Tendai Mtawarira (117), Bryan Habana (124) and Matfield can lay claim to more Springbok appearances.

ICYMI: Is Frans Steyn the Springboks GOAT?

BOKS FLEX THEIR DEPTH

With one legendary lock chasing another’s place in the history books, the Boks also have considerable experience on their bench with a total of 231 caps to the names of those eight players in reserve. Duane Vermeulen and Pieter-Steph Du Toit are both veterans of over 50 test matches, while Malcolm Marx has turned out 44 times for South Africa.

ICYMI: Springboks boast unrivalled depth on their bench

WORLD CHAMPIONS RING THE CHANGES IN RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

The Springboks have made wholesale changes to the side which thumped Australia 43-12 last weekend. Hat-trick hero in that game, Kurt-Lee Arendse, won’t feature with regular wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe restored. That pair both scored in the 2019 World Cup final against England. Who can ever forget that?

Kickoff between these old rugby foes is at 09:05 on Saturday 15 July from Auckland.

GOATED: De Allende and Am closing in on iconic Springboks record