For Saturday’s match against France at the Stade de France in Paris.
– The total Test caps for the Springbok starting lineup is 444. There are 191 caps in the backline with 253 among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 149 caps.
– The average caps per player in the backline are 27, the forwards are 32, while the players on the bench average 19. The average age of the starting XV is 26.
– Handré Pollard needs one point to reach 300 career points in Test rugby. Should he score 14 points or more in this Test, he will surpass Naas Botha’s career record of 312 points and will move up to fourth position on the all-time point scoring list for South Africa.
– South Africa’s overall record against France is: P: 43; W: 26; L: 11; D: 6; PF: 910; PA: 636; TF: 103; TA: 57; Average score: 21-15. Win%: 60%.
– South Africa’s biggest win against France (42 points) was in 1997 at the Parc des Princes in Paris, when the Springboks ran in seven tries to win 52-10. Pieter Rossouw scored four tries, only the second Springbok to score four tries in a Test match at the time.
– The Springboks’ biggest loss against France was in 2002 in Marseilles when they were beaten 30-10.
– The Springboks’ first Test at the Stade de France was the 1999 World Cup quarter-final against England, which South Africa won 44-21. Jannie de Beer scored 34 points through two conversions, five penalty goals and a world record of five drop goals in that match.
– The Springboks played their first Test against France at the Stade de France two years later, in 2001. South Africa lost 20-10.
– To date, South Africa have played eight Tests at the Stade de France. The record is: P: 8; W: 6; L: 2; PF: 199; PA: 113; TF: 15; TA: 8; Average score: 25-14; Win%: 75%.
– Of the abovementioned eight Tests, four were against France. The record: P: 4; W: 2; L: 2; PF: 67; PA: 73; TF: 6; TA: 7.
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– The Springboks’ top scorers at the Stade de France are Percy Montgomery (54 points, nine conversions and 12 penalty goals), JP Pietersen (three tries) and Jannie de Beer (five drop goals).
– The match records are held by Jannie de Beer (34 points, five penalty goals and five drop goals), JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana (two tries each).
– The referee is Nigel Owens of Wales, the most experienced referee in the world (85 Tests).
– Owens has refereed 17 Tests involving the Springboks, of which South Africa won 10 and lost seven for a 59% win rate.
– The assistant referees are Matthew Carley and Tom Foley, and Rowan Kitt is the TMO. All three are from England.
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