For Saturday’s Test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
– The total number of Test caps in the Springbok starting lineup is 289. There are 89 caps in the backline with 200 caps among the forwards, and a further 99 caps on the bench.
– The average caps per player in the backline are 13, the forwards 25, while the players on the bench average 12. The average age of the starting XV is 25.
– After this Test against Wales, three players would have played in all 13 Tests during 2017 – Andries Coetzee, Eben Etzebeth and Steven Kitshoff.
– Louis Schreuder and Lukhanyo Am will make their Test debuts if they come off the bench. Whoever comes on first will be Bok No 891.
– The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff was built on the same ground as Cardiff Arms Park. The opening of the stadium took place in June 1999 and the first major event was the Test on 26 June 1999 between Wales and South Africa.
– That day, Gary Teichmann’s Springboks became the first-ever Bok side to lose against Wales (29-19).
– Overall, 17 matches were played at this venue between the Springboks and Wales, with the first dating back to 14 December 1912.
– South Africa’s record at this ground: P: 17; W: 13; L: 3; D: 1; PF: 348; PA: 272; TF: 38; TA: 20; Average score: 20-16. Win%: 76%.
– South Africa’s overall record against Wales: P: 32; W: 28; L: 3; D: 1; PF: 850; PA: 486; TF: 103; TA: 39; Average score: 27-15. Win%: 88%.
– South Africa scored 96 points against Wales in 1998 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, the fourth highest score in a Test by the Springboks.
– Wales’ delivered their best performance against South Africa in their 27-13 win in Cardiff in 2016.
– The match referee is Jérôme Garcès of France. He was born on 24 October 1973 in Pau, and made his international debut in a non-Test match between England and the Barbarians at Twickenham on 30 May 2010. To date he has officiated in 39 Tests, with 11 Test matches involving South Africa. The Boks have won only three of their Tests when he was in charge, for a win percentage of 27%.
– The two assistant referees are Wayne Barnes of England and Frank Murphy of Ireland, while Rowan Kitt of England is the TMO.
Photo: Matteo Ciambelli/Getty Images
