Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named his side to take on Australia in their opening Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 16 August.
Kick-off is at 17:10.
The match will mark a significant occasion for veteran lock Eben Etzebeth who will extend his record as the most capped Springbok of all time to 134 matches.
That feat will also see him break out of a current tie with former Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray in joint-11th place in the global pecking order to joint 10th position with Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins.
Only two players ahead of Etzebeth in the list – James Slipper and Beauden Barrett – are still playing.
Still only 33, there is plenty of time for Etzebeth to further climb the list before he hangs up his studs.
| Rank | Caps | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 170 | Alun Wyn Jones | Wales (158), British and Irish Lions (12) |
| 2 | 153 | Sam Whitelock | New Zealand |
| 3 | 148 | Richie McCaw | New Zealand |
| 4 | 147 | James Slipper | Australia |
| 5 | 142 | Sergio Parisse | Italy |
| 6 | 141 | Brian O’Driscoll | Ireland (133), British and Irish Lions (8) |
| 7 | 139 | George Gregan | Australia |
| 8 | 137 | Cian Healy | Ireland |
| 9 | 136 | Beauden Barrett | New Zealand |
| 10 | 134 | Gethin Jenkins | Wales (129), British and Irish Lions (5) |
| Full names: Eben Etzebeth |
| Date of birth: 29 October 1991 |
| Place of birth: Cape Town |
| School: Tygerberg |
| Springbok #833 |
| Physical: 2.03m, 117kg |
| Current age: 33 |
| Test summary: Tests: 133 Tries: 7 |
| First Test: 9 June 2012 – Lock against England at Kings park, Durban |
| Last Test: 19 July 2025 – Lock against Georgia at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit |
TEAMS
South Africa
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse
Australia
TBA
Date: Saturday, 16 August
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:10
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
How many Tests will Eben Etzebeth have played by the time he retires?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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