For the Test against Wales in Washington DC on Saturday.
– The total Test caps for the Springbok starting lineup is 134. The record for the least experienced Bok starting XV is 40 vs France in Durban in 1993.
– There are 53 caps in the backline with 81 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 25 caps.
– The average caps per player in the backline are eight, the forwards 10, while the players on the bench average three. The average age of the starting XV is 24.
– The following players will make their Test debut: Travis Ismaiel (who will celebrate his 26th birthday on match day), Makazole Mapimpi, André Esterhuizen, Ivan van Zyl, Kwagga Smith, Jason Jenkins and Ox Nché. There are six reserves on the bench who could also make their debut.
– Only seven players in the squad have played against Wales before – Dan du Preez, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Elton Jantjies, Jesse Kriel, Wilco Louw, Oupa Mohojé and Chiliboy Ralepelle.
– Should Robert du Preez be used as a substitute, it will be the first time in Springbok history that there will be a set of a Springbok father with three Springbok sons – Robert Snr, Jean-Luc, Dan and Robert Jnr. The Du Preezs will also become the fourth set of three Bok brothers. The previous three sets were the Luyt brothers (1912), the Bekker brothers (1960) and the Du Plessis brothers (1984).
– The match in Washington will only be the second time that South Africa will face Wales on neutral ground outside of a World Cup. Previously, the two rivals played at Wembley Stadium in London during the construction of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. On that occasion, on 14 November 1998, Gary Teichmann’s Springbok side won 28-20.
– It will only be the third time that the Springboks will play a Test match in the USA. In 1981, Wynand Claassen’s Springboks beat the USA (38-7) in Glenville, and in 2001 the Springboks, under captain André Vos, won their Test against the Eagles 43-20 in Houston.
– The Robert F Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington DC, with a capacity of 45,596, is a multi-sport facility for both baseball and football. Among others, it has also hosted boxing matches, marathon finishes and concerts. The Springboks have never played here before.
– South Africa’s overall record against Wales: P: 33; W: 28; L: 4; D: 1; PF: 872; PA: 510; TF: 106; TA: 42; Average score: 26-15. Win%: 85%.
– The referee is Matthew Carley of England. He was born on 21 December 1984 in Dover and made his international debut as a referee on 25 June 2016 in Sacramento, California, in a Test between the USA and Russia. This Test will be his first with South Africa involved.
– The assistant referees are Alexandre Ruiz of France and Frank Murphy of Ireland. The TMO will be David Grashoff of England.
Photo: Kim Ludbrook/BackpagePix
