For Saturday's Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies at Loftus.

– The total Test caps in the starting lineup are 596 – of this, 310 are in the backline with 286 among the forwards. The combined Test caps of those on the bench are 124. The average caps per player for the match-day 23 are 31.

– The youngest player in the squad is Jesse Kriel (22 years and seven months), with the oldest member of the team Bryan Habana (33 years and three months).

– The following players will play in their eighth consecutive match in the starting XV under Allister Coetzee’s reign: Francois Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Adriaan Strauss and Tendai Mtawarira.

– Bryan Habana is the top try-scorer (nine) for South Africa against Australia, while Morné Steyn is the top point-scorer with 16 conversions, 39 penalty goals and three drop goals for a total of 158 career points in 14 appearances against the Wallabies.

– Bryan Habana needs one try against Australia for his career-record 10th try against the Wallabies. He is also the record holder for the most Springbok career tries at Loftus Versfeld (eight).

– Eben Etzebeth will play in his 29th consecutive Test match, elevating him into joint-third with Morné Steyn for most consecutive Tests in a career. Only Gary Teichmann (39) and John Smit (46) have played in more consecutive Tests.

– Morné Steyn needs three successful penalty goals to equal Percy Montgomery’s career record of 148 penalty goals in Test matches. Only one penalty goal will bring up his 40th penalty goal against Australia as well as improving his record career points against Australia to 161. He is also co-record holder with four drop goals in his Castle Lager Rugby Championship career, the other players being Dan Carter of New Zealand and fellow Springbok André Pretorius.

– Vincent Koch and Rudy Paige will play their first Test match against the Wallabies. Julian Redelinghuys could also make his first appearance against Australia should he be required as a replacement. 

Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images