Top 10 most-capped Test players list – UPDATED
· The South African
Saturday’s opening ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ Test between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park will see veteran lock Eben Etzebeth claim sole sixth place in the list of most Tests played.
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Etzebeth was on Thursday named in the Springboks’ starting XV by coach Rassie Erasmus for the clash in Johannesburg which kicks off at 17:10.
Tied for sixth-place
Heading into the match, Etzebeth has 142 Test caps to his name, and finds himself in a tie for sixth-place overall with now-retired Italian No 8, Sergio Parisse.
Etzebeth will also close the gap on All Blacks utility back Beauden Barrett who was not selected in the All Blacks’ matchday 23-man squad.
Barrett currently has 144 caps to his name.
Retired Wales and British & Irish Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones leads the way with 170 overall Test matches played.
At still only 34 years of age, there is plenty of time for Etzebeth to further climb the list before he hangs up his studs.
Latest centurion
Meanwhile, Saturday’s Test will see Springbok centre Damian De Allende become just the 10th Springbok to reach 100 Tests.
For the record, there have been 958 Springboks to date.
De Allende joins an illustrious list of South African centurions which includes Etzebeth (142*), Victor Matfield (127), Bryan Habana (124), ‘Beast’ Mtawarira (117), John Smit (111), Jean de Villiers (109), Siya Kolisi (104*), Percy Montgomery (102) and Willie le Roux (101*).
*denotes still playing
READ | Springbok team to face All Blacks attended these SCHOOLS
RankCapsPlayerTeam1170Alun Wyn JonesWales (158), British and Irish Lions (12)2154James SlipperAustralia3153Sam WhitelockNew Zealand4148Richie McCawNew Zealand5144Beauden BarrettNew ZealandT6142Eben EtzebethSouth AfricaT6142Sergio ParisseItaly8141Brian O’DriscollIreland (133), British and Irish Lions (8)9139George GreganAustralia10137Cian HealyIreland Full names: Eben EtzebethDate of birth: 29 October 1991Place of birth: Cape TownSchool: TygerbergSpringbok #833Physical: 2.03m, 117kgCurrent age: 34 Test summary: Tests: 142 Tries: 9First Test: 9 June 2012 – Lock against England at Kings Park, DurbanLast Test: 8 August 2026 – Lock against Argentina at Vélez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos AiresTeams
South Africa15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok
New Zealand15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Leroy Carter
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
How many Tests will Eben Etzebeth have played by the time he retires?
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