For the Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks in Pretoria on Saturday.

– The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 490. There are 180 caps in the backline, with 310 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 181 caps.

– The average caps per player in the backline are 26, the forwards 39, while the players on the bench average 23. The average age of the starting XV is 26.

– Tendai Mtawarira is the most experienced Springbok against New Zealand with 17 Tests. Three players in the match 23 – Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Embrose Papier and Damian Willemse – have not played against the All Blacks before.

– Willie le Roux will play in his 50th Test for South Africa.

– Eben Etzebeth will play in his record 38th consecutive Test in this tournament.

– South Africa could score their 150th try against New Zealand if they score two tries in this Test, and the All Blacks need 21 points to reach 2,000 points in Tests against the Springboks.

TEAM: Louw at No 8 for Springboks

– The ground on which Loftus Versfeld is situated was established in 1906 and was then known as the Eastern Sports Ground. The first international rugby match at this venue was played on 24 July 1928 when the visiting All Blacks played against Pretoria. The first Test at Loftus was against the 1955 British & Irish Lions, captained by Robin Thompson of Ireland. 

– Saturday’s match against New Zealand will be the 36th Test at Loftus. The stadium has a seating capacity of 49,861.

– South Africa’s record at Loftus is: P: 35; W: 27; L: 8; PF: 1 140; PA: 680; TF: 135; TA: 68; average score: 33-19; Win%: 77%.

– South Africa’s overall record at Loftus against New Zealand is: P: 5; W: 1; L: 4; PF: 103; PA: 170; TF: 11; TA: 18; average score: 21-34; Win%: 20%.

– Springboks’ top-scorers at this stadium are: Percy Montgomery, 105 (10 Tests), Morné Steyn, 62 (five Tests) and Naas Botha, 56 (four Tests).

– Match records are held by Percy Montgomery (31 points, nine conversions), Danie Gerber, Pieter Rossouw and Bryan Habana (three tries), Gerald Bosch and Braam van Straaten (six penalty goals) and Morné Steyn (two drop goals).

– The most points scored by South Africa against New Zealand at Loftus were 26 on two occasions (1996 and 2006), while New Zealand racked up 52 points in 2003.

– South Africa’s overall record in the Rugby Championship against New Zealand is: P: 48; W: 13; L: 35; PF: 917; PA: 1 392; TF: 85; TA: 148; average score: 19-29. Win%: 27%.

– South Africa’s overall record against the All Blacks is: P: 96; W: 36; L: 57; D: 3; PF: 1 518; PA: 1 979; TF: 148; TA: 218; average score: 16-21. Win%: 38%.

– South Africa’s biggest win against New Zealand was 90 years ago in 1928 in Durban when the Springboks won 17-0.

SUPERBRU: Springboks or All Blacks?

– The referee is Angus Gardner of Australia. Gardner was born in Sydney, Australia on 24 August 1984. His first Test was in November 2011, in a match between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.

– The two assistant referees are Jérôme Garcès of France and Matt Carley of England, while Graham Hughes of England will be the TMO.

Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images