The Springboks will take the field against Japan in Sunday’s World Cup quarterfinal with the most-capped outfit in four years.
With a joint number of 665 caps in the matchday squad, it is the most experienced SA team since the days of Test centurions Jean de Villiers, Victor Matfield and Bryan Habana at the last World Cup.
Star loosehead prop Beast Mtawarira is the most-capped player in the side, with 114 Test to his name, followed by lock Eben Etzebeth with 82.
Led by captain Siya Kolisi, coach Rassie Erasmus believes his team has the experience to end Japan’s unbeaten run at the tournament and knock them out.
EXPERIENCED: Eben Etzebeth. Picture: Peter Cziborra/Reuters.
Erasmus says: “When we set out on this campaign at the start of last season, one of the things we said we wanted to do was broaden and deepen the experience in the squad.
“We’re now in a position where everyone in the starting XV has had a proper taste of top-level Test rugby and we’ve got a strong spine of Test experience for these high-pressure matches.
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— Springboks (@Springboks)
“You need that experience when it comes to handling the pressure situations we will face on Sunday and I think we’ve achieved that now.”
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