Eben Etzebeth became the sole holder of the record for most Springbok Test caps against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
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Etzebeth broke out of a tie with Victor Matfield and is now the lone holder of the record with 128 caps – and counting.
Where does that put the 32-year-old worldwide in terms of caps won?
The answer?
Sixteenth.
Fellow lock, Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones is the current record holder with 171 (158 for Wales and 13 for the British & Irish Lions).
He’s followed by yet another second-rower, New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock (153).
The backline player with the most Test caps is Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll with 141 (133 for Ireland and eight for the British & Irish Lions).
Immediately ahead of Etzebeth are a trio of players on 129 Tests: Stephen Moore, Florin Vlaicu and Ben Youngs.
Etzebeth still has ample time on his side – considering he will only turn 33 in late October – to take giant strides up the list before he hangs up his studs.
RankCapsPlayerTeamsPosition1171Alun Wyn JonesWales (158), British & Irish Lions (13)Lock2153Sam WhitelockNew ZealandLock3148Richie McCawNew ZealandFlank4142Sergio ParisseItalyNo 85141Brian O’DriscollIreland (133), British & Irish Lions (8)Centre6140James Slipper *AustraliaProp7139George GreganAustraliaScrumhalf8134Gethin JenkinsWales (129), British & Irish Lions (5)Prop9132Keven MealamuNew ZealandHookerT10131Beauden Barrett *New ZealandFullback / FlyhalfT10131Cian Healy *IrelandProp12130Ronan O’GaraIreland (128), British & Irish Lions (2)FlyhalfT13129Stephen MooreAustraliaHookerT13129Florin VlaicuRomaniaCentreT13129Ben YoungsEngland (127), British & Irish Lions (2)Scrumhalf16128Eben Etzebeth *South AfricaLock* denotes still active
Meanwhile, heading into Saturday’s match at the Mbombela Stadium, Etzebeth, Matfield and Bryan Habana had all tasted victory on 79 occasions while wearing the famed green and gold jersey.
Thanks to South Africa’s resounding 48-7 win, Etzebeth now holds that record alone.
Victor MatfieldEben EtzebethBryan HabanaSpringbok #705833766PositionLockLockWingTests played127128 *124First Testv Italy, Port Elizabeth, 2001v England, Durban, 2012v England, London, 2004Age on debut242021Last Testv Argentina, London, 2015v Argentina, Nelspruit, 2024v Italy, Florence, 2016Age in final Test3832 *33Test points3530335Tests won798079Tests lost464342Tests drawn253
* Denotes still active
Below, every Springbok – past and present – to have played 80 or more Tests:
* denotes still active
How many Tests will Eben Etzebeth play before hanging up his boots?
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