Where is Makazole Mapimpi in the Springbok tries top 10?
Makazole Mapimpi has scored 26 tries for the Springboks, putting him fifth on the all-time list for South Africa.
Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi marked a milestone start against Romania in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday with a hatr-trick.
Mapimpi ran out on the wing in a Test for the Springboks for the 39th time moving him level with Pieter Rossouw on the all-time list and he also moved up on the tryscorers list.
He would score three tries and claim the man of the match award in his first Rugby World Cup 2023 appearance.
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MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI ACHIEVES SPRINGBOK MILESTONE
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Mapimpi became the player with the joint-fifth most starts on the wing for the Springboks.
He now has 26 tries for the Springboks, putting him fifth on the all-time list for South Africa. Mapimpi has the best strike-rate of any other player to feature in the top ten.
WHERE IS MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI IN TRIES TOP TEN
| # | 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 |
| 5 | Makazole Mapimpi | 2018- | 26 | 40 | 65.0% | 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 |
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Mapimpi moved past JP Pietersen, Percy Montgomery and level with Breyton Paulse thanks to his three scores against Romania.
A SCRUMHALF ON THE WING
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Meanwhile on the other wing, Grant Williams makes his first start on the wing for the Springboks.
Williams has terrific pace, and the scrumhalf has been backed to use his speed out wide.
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“People were surprised when we picked four scrumhalves in the squad but we knew they offered us the skills and versatility to provide backline options to manage the challenges that tournament rugby gives you,” said Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
“They are all excellent scrumhalves, but Grant and Cobus can play wing and Faf has experience at No 10 – as do Cheslin and Willie. We have the same versatility among our forwards.
“Grant played school rugby on the wing, and he has come on at wing before for us, so we are excited to give him this opportunity to start there and for him to gain international experience in the position.
“Faf is also one of our back up flyhalves in the squad, and the same applies to him, as it will be valuable for him and the team to get some game time in the position.
“We have been rotating and testing players in different positions since last season to put us in the fortunate position to have a group of 33 players in France that are closely matched in terms of their quality of play and skills, and who have been pushing one another for places in the last few months. It has allowed us to select a top-quality team for this match.”
What is your favourite Makazole Mapimpi moment?
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