Etzebeth To Break Bok Record, Libbok Gets Shot At Redemption

Eben Etzebeth will set a new all-time appearance record for the Springboks when he runs out in the Rugby Championship decider against Argentina in Nelspruit on Saturday.

The double World Cup winner returns to the starting line-up for what will be his 128th Test match after matching Victor Matfield’s record of 127 appearances in the 31-29 loss to the Pumas in Santiago del Estero last weekend.

Manie Libbok, meanwhile, will get an opportunity to redeem himself after missing a late penalty kick that would’ve won the Boks the game last weekend when he starts at flyhalf in a new halfback pairing with Jaden Hendrikse.

Rassie Erasmus has made nine changes and a positional switch in all and has recalled a half-dozen big guns who were rested last weekend in captain Siya Kolisi, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, tighthead prop Frans Malherbe, flank Pieter-Steph du Toit, centre Damian de Allende and wing Cheslin Kolbe.

Erasmus has opted for the same starting pack that defeated New Zealand 18-12 in Cape Town and the same five forward replacements as he reverted to a traditional five-three split-bench, with the vastly experienced trio of Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard and Lukhanyo Am providing backline insurance on the pine.

Dropping out of the matchday 23 are Thomas du Toit, Salmaan Moerat, Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Makazole Mapimpi and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

The Boks require just one log point to clinch their first Rugby Championship title since 2019’s abbreviated edition and their first full tournament title in 15 years. If Argentina win without a bonus point, South Africa will still take their fifth title.

The only scenario that could deny the men in green and gold the title is if Argentina win with a bonus point and prevent the hosts from earning any log points. In this case, the Pumas would claim their maiden championship, having achieved two victories over South Africa.

Fast facts:

• Eben Etzebeth will reach the magnificent career milestone of setting a new record as the most-capped Springbok player of all-time with 128 Tests when he takes the field after matching Victor Matfield’s record of 127 caps last week.
• South Africa have won 15 of the 16 outings between the teams in South Africa. Argentina’s only victory was a 37-25 win in 2015.
• Handre Pollard leapfrogged Morne Steyn (742 points) into second place on the Springbok all-time scorers’ list, with the flyhalf now on 749 points after slotting two conversions and two penalty goals against Argentina last week. Percy Montgomery leads with 893 points.
• This will mark the Springboks’ fifth Test at the Mbombela Stadium and the second against Argentina at the ground in Mpumalanga, where the Boks remain unbeaten. They defeated Los Pumas 30-23 in the last outing between the teams in Nelspruit in 2016.
• The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 778.
• There are 260 caps in the backline, with 518 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 344 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is 37, the forwards 64, while the players on the bench average 43.

South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Elrigh Louw, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Lukhanyo Am.