Two Springboks on the verge of 100-cap milestone
· The South African
Although Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a new-look team to face Wales this Saturday, including four debutants, there are two veterans who will edge ever closer to the 100-cap milestone.
After Saturday’s clash, Damian de Allende will require only one more Test appearance after this match to earn his 100th Test cap. It’s likely that the midfield star will be rested for the one-off game against Argentina on 8 August, and so there is every chance that he will celebrate his century of Test appearances in the first match against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on 22 August.
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Meanwhile, Pieter-Steph du Toit will lead the Springboks into action this weekend, and will then only require two more caps to also achieve that remarkable milestone.
He too is expected to be rested for the Argentina match, meaning his 100th cap could well be achieved in the second battle against New Zealand on 29 August in Cape Town.
Last year, Siya Kolisi and Willie le Roux became the latest Springboks to join the centurion club, with this golden generation of players continuing to rack up memorable milestones.
Reminder of the Springboks’ Tests to come against the All Blacks
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour
- Saturday 22 August: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Kick-off: 17:00
- Saturday 29 August: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
- Kick-off: 17:00
- Saturday 5 September: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
- Kick-off: 17:00
- Saturday 12 September: Boks v All Blacks
- Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
- Kick-off: 18:00 (Expected)
Lots to look forward to
After this Saturday’s Test against Wales, the Springboks will have a clear selection strategy in place for the one-off Test against Argentina before turning attention to the All Blacks’ four-match tour to South Africa in August and September.
“We will really focus on that Argentina game and getting Eben (Etzebeth), Siya, Lood de Jager and ‘Sous’ (Franco Mostert) available. Those guys will go to Argentina and we’ll pick a proper team,” Rassie Erasmus commented this week.
“But we will leave 15, 16 or 17 guys, depending on who’s injured, back home to start preparing for New Zealand.”