16 Springbok stats and facts

For the World Cup match against the USA at London's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday:

  • After the Springbok tour to New Zealand in 1981, South Africa visited New York to play a historical first Test against the USA. For security reasons the arrangements for the match were shrouded in secrecy. The Test was played on a polo field at Glenville, New York. The only people who attended were officials, a few media people, the substitutes and security personnel. As a result the Test was played before the smallest attendance (30) at a Test anywhere in the world. South Africa won 38-7.
  • Only two Tests have been played between the teams since, both won by South Africa. Their record against the USA is: played 3; won: 3; lost: 0; points for: 145; points against: 42. Win%: 100.
  • The most points scored by the Springboks in a match against the USA was 64 during the 2007 World Cup in France. The score was 64-15 and nine tries were scored by the Springboks.
  • The total Test caps for the Springbok starting lineup is 623. There are 262 caps in the backline with 361 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 171 caps.
  • Rudy Paige could make his Springbok debut from the bench. His Bok number will be 869.
  • Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 112 caps in this position. He is the most experienced Bok backline player with 113 caps and only Victor Matfield (125) has played in more Tests for South Africa.
  • If Habana scores a try he will extend his own record of 61 Test tries for South Africa. He also holds the Springbok record for most career tries (12) in World Cup tournaments. Jonah Lomu of New Zealand is the current record holder with 15 career tries.
  • Habana needs one try to equal the world record for most Test tries as a wing. The current world record holder is Daisuke Ohata from Japan with 62 tries in the wing position.
  • Habana needs one try against the USA to equal Ray Mordt’s record of three career tries against the USA. Should he score the try, he will also equal Percy Montgomery’s career record of 15 career points against the USA.
  • Schalk Burger will play in his 76th Test as a flank, a Springbok record. Saturday’s Test will be his 17th World Cup Test to join John Smit as the most-capped Springbok in World Cups. Burger is also the Springbok record holder for most tries as a flank (14) as well as a forward (16).
  • Bismarck du Plessis is the Springbok record holder for most tries (10) in Tests as a hooker.
  • Morné Steyn could play in his 60th Test if used as a substitute. He is South Africa’s most-capped flyhalf with 57 Tests in that position and his eight career tries is also a Springbok record for a flyhalf. Steyn kicked six successful conversions in the match against Namibia in the 2011 World Cup, which is a Springbok record that he shares with Ruan Pienaar who also kicked six conversions in the same match. Steyn needs 12 points to reach 700 points in Tests for South Africa.
  • Francois Louw will play in his 40th Test for South Africa while Trevor Nyakane could play in his 20th if used from the bench.
  • Only four players, Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez, Schalk Burger and Bismarck du Plessis have previously played in a Test against the USA.
  • The referee is Pascal Gaüzère of France. He made his professional debut in November 2010, when he was the referee in a Test between Georgia and Canada. It will be his third Test involving South Africa. The previous two matches were both won by South Africa, in 2013 against Italy and Samoa, played in Durban and Pretoria respectively.
  • London's Olympic Stadium is the venue for the Springboks' last pool match. It has a capacity of 80,000 seats, making it the third largest stadium in England behind Wembley and Twickenham. It is home to the West Ham United Football Club. One more World Cup match, the third-place play-off, will be played at this venue.

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images

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