Springboks name most experienced South Africa team for crucial All Blacks Test

The Springboks will field the most experienced South African side in history when they face the All Blacks in the second Test of the Greatest Rivalry series in Cape Town on Saturday.

South Africa must win to level the four-Test series at 1-1. If New Zealand win or draw, they will be unable to lose the series, while the best the Springboks could then achieve from the final two Tests would be a 2-2 draw.

The South African matchday 23 contains a combined 1,012 Test caps, setting a new national record for experience. Of that total, 584 caps belong to the forwards and 428 to the backline, with 204 of the overall figure coming from players named among the replacements.

That equates to an average of 73 caps per forward, 61 for each backline player and 26 for the replacements.

Eben Etzebeth is the most experienced player in the squad, bringing 144 Test appearances to the team. Captain Siya Kolisi will make his 105th appearance for South Africa in the green and gold.

The match will also feature two significant milestones for the Springboks. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit is set to win his 100th Test cap, while prop Ox Nche will reach 50 international appearances.

Kolisi paid tribute to both teammates ahead of the match, while also highlighting the contribution of the coaching staff in helping the squad reach such a level of experience and continuity.

“Credit definitely goes to the coaching staff,” said Kolisi.

“Over the past few years, they’ve used more than 50 players in rotation, and people don’t always understand that, but we do. They explain the plan to us, and we understand it.

“Some guys are older than others, and playing someone week in and week out isn’t going to help with longevity. As players, we want to play every game, but when the coaches come up with a plan, we know the reasons.

The Springboks’ selection reflects a deliberate approach to managing their squad over recent years, with more than 50 players used in rotation. Kolisi said that while players naturally wanted to be involved in every match, they understood why the coaching staff had chosen to share the workload.

That management has helped South Africa assemble a side with unprecedented collective Test experience for a match carrying major consequences for the series.

New Zealand currently hold the advantage after the opening Test. A further victory in Cape Town would ensure they could not be overtaken across the four-match contest, whereas South Africa need to respond immediately to keep their hopes of winning the series alive.

The second Test in Cape Town kicks off at 17:10 on Saturday.