Siya Kolisi has once again been a key performer for the Springboks this season, recovering from some early injury issues before increasingly settling into his stride in the loose trio, particularly once he was back in his preferred role at openside flank.
When Kolisi leads the Springboks out against Argentina this Saturday, he will play his 97th Test match, leaving him only three matches short of becoming the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game.
If he remains fit, Kolisi will undoubtedly feature in the final Rugby Championship game in London, meaning he will head on the end-of-year tour on 98 caps, and with the very real prospect of reaching 100 caps.
It does make for quite an interesting dilemma as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus generally has tried to ensure milestones such as reaching 100 caps can be celebrated in South Africa in front of home fans.
However, South Africa will play five games on the end-of-year tour against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales, and Kolisi would only be able to feature in one of these matches if the Springboks hoped to defer his 100-cap milestone to next year.
WILL SIYA KOLISI REACH SPECIAL MILESTONE THIS YEAR?
REMAINING BOK SCHEDULE FOR 2025:
- 27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban. Kick off: 17:10.
- 4 October: vs Argentina, London. Kick off: 15:00.
- 1 November: vs Japan, Wembley. Kick off: TBD.
- 8 November: vs France, Paris. Kick off: 22:10.
- 15 November: vs Italy, Turin. Kick off: 14:40
- 22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin. Kick off: 19:40.
- 29 November: vs Wales, Cardiff. Kick off: 17:10.
Miscellaneous stats & facts for this weekend:
- The Springboks have won 10 of their last 12 matches against the Pumas dating back to 2018, with their only two defeats being in Argentina, in Santiago Del Estero (last season) and in Mendoza (in 2018).
- The teams have crossed paths in Durban three times, and it was in 2015 – the first time they played in KwaZulu-Natal – that the Pumas registered their first victory over the Boks (by 37-25), with the hosts winning the other two.
- Springbok flanker Siya Kolisi will play his 97th Test match, leaving him only three matches short of becoming the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game.
- Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok of all time to 137 Tests when he takes the field on Saturday.
- Four players in the Springbok team boast over 90 Test caps – Etzebeth (136), Kolisi (96), Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende (both on 91 caps).
- The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 782. There are 256 caps in the backline, with 526 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 189 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is 37, the forwards 66, while the players on the bench average 24.
