South African Rugby Legend: Unveiling the Springboks’ top try scorer
Springbok Try-Scoring History: Who holds the record, and can a current player challenge it?
Who has crossed the try line the most for the Springboks? Look no further than the record-breaking Bryan Habana.
Habana touched down for 67 five-pointers in a career that stretched from 2004 until 2017.
WHO HOLDS THE RECORD FOR MOST TRIES FOR THE SPRINGBOKS
Habana broke through the previous mark, held by Joost van der Westhuizen in 2011 when he scored his 39th try in the Green and Gold at the Rugby World Cup.
“I think other people were more worried about it than I was,” Habana said of breaking the record.
“I’ve said it my whole career: it’s always been about the Springbok team. It’s never been about the number of tries I’ve been able to score, it’s about contributing, and I’m disappointed that I haven’t been able to contribute for the last couple of tests.
“Hopefully, now everyone can stop worrying about it and I can concentrate on playing rugby. It’s been great, a great honour and privilege to break records and pass someone like Joost. Hopefully, I can keep using my God-given talent to contribute to Springbok rugby.”
Habana scored his 67th Test try against Italy on 19 November 2016 and retired from internationals in 2017.
WHICH CURRENT PLAYER HAS THE MOST TRIES FOR THE SPRINGBOKS?
Makazole Mapimpi is the current Springbok with the highest tally of tries and has notched his scores at an impressive rate.
A bit of a late bloomer, Mapimpi made his Test debut at the age of 28. He scored in his first Test, although the Springboks lost the match against Wales in Washington DC.
On all but four occassions when Mapimpi has scored, the Springboks go on to win the match.
Mapimpi has scored two Test hat-tricks, running in for three scores against Japan in 2019 and Romania at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
He suffered a fractured cheekbone in the win over Tonga at the Rugby World Cup.
Mapimpi made his return to Test rugby in June at Twickenham, scoring his 27th Test try against Wales to move level with Jean de Villiers as the fourth highest tryscorer for the Springboks.
Only Jaque Fourie (32), Van der Westhuizen (38) and Habana (67) have scored more tries for the Springboks than Mapimpi.
TOP TEN TRYSCORERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA
| # | Name | Period | Tries | Caps | Ave. | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Habana | 2004–2017 | 67 | 124 | 54% | Wing |
| 2 | Joost van der Westhuizen | 1993–2003 | 38 | 89 | 42.7% | Scrum-half |
| 3 | Jaque Fourie | 2003–2013 | 32 | 72 | 44.4% | Centre |
| 4 | Jean de Villiers | 2002–2015 | 27 | 109 | 24.8% | Centre |
| Makazole Mapimpi | 2018– | 27 | 42 | 64.3% | Wing | |
| 6 | Breyton Paulse | 1997–2007 | 26 | 64 | 40.6% | Wing |
| 7 | Percy Montgomery | 1997–2008 | 25 | 102 | 24.5% | Fullback |
| 8 | JP Pietersen | 2006–2016 | 24 | 70 | 34.3% | Wing |
| 9 | Pieter Rossouw | 1997–2003 | 21 | 43 | 48.8% | Wing |
| 10 | James Small | 1992–1997 | 20 | 47 | 42.6% | Wing |