How many current Springboks could reach 100 caps?
10/31/2024 09:08 AM
When the next World Cup rolls around, the Springboks will be hunting a hat-trick of successive titles, and there is no doubt that this will be a major long-term priority for many stalwarts who have been part of the 2019 and 2023 triumphs.
The majority of the current World Cup winning squad could still be available in three years' time, and it’s quite incredible to analyse how many members of this ‘golden generation’ could foreseeably end up making 100 Springbok appearances if form and fitness permits.
Already this season we have seen Eben Etzebeth become the most-capped Springbok of all time, and Willie le Roux (35-years-old) is next in line to join the ‘100 club’ with 97 Test caps to his name.
Keeping in mind that there are generally at least 12 Tests each year, Siya Kolisi (33-years-old) could reach the 100-cap milestone as soon as next year considering he will end this year on 93 Test appearances if he features in all three November internationals.
Not far behind, Damian de Allende (32-years-old) is on 85 Test caps, Pieter-Steph du Toit (32-years-old) is on 84 and Steven Kitshoff (also 32-years-old) has 83 caps to his name. All three could join the centurion club by 2026.
A bit further away, Jesse Kriel (30-years-old) is on 77 caps, as is another 30-year-old Handre Pollard.
Franco Mostert (33-years-old) and Frans Malherbe (also 33-years-old) are then just behind them on 76 caps each. If this duo can stay fit and push through to the next World Cup, they would also be close to the 100-cap mark, as would Malcolm Marx (30-years-old), who currently has 73 Test caps to his name.
If we just leave it there, that’s as many as 11 players from this incredible golden age who could feasibly end their career with more than 100 Test caps for the Springboks.
That would be simply incredible considering that there are currently only seven Springbok centurions as it stands, including Etzebeth.
Of course, not every player mentioned is likely to remain fit and on form to feature in all the necessary games over the next three years, but it still quite astounding how much experience this Springbok squad currently boasts.
Springbok players with 70 Test caps or more as is stands:
While several players will be well into their thirties by the time the next World Cup arrives, the truth is that many could still be available in 2027.
However, time at the top is running out for these players:
- Makazole Mapimpi (age at the next World Cup: 37)
- Cobus Reinach (37)
- Willie le Roux (38)
- Trevor Nyakane (38)
- Vincent Koch (37)
- Faf de Klerk (36)
How many current Bok stars do you think could reach 100 caps?
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