Only 15 players can start any Test, but equally important in this day and age are those eight players who come off the bench.
No more so the case than with the Springboks who have taken the ‘Bomb squad’ concept to a new level.
But which Springbok has started more Tests on the substitutes’ bench than any other?
Considering that eight of the top 11 players with most Tests off the pine are frontrankers, it perhaps comes as no surprise that prop Steven Kitshoff has the most caps off the bench.
Kitshoff has started 54 of his 83 Tests to date as a substitute.
The 32-year-old Paul Roos old boy made his debut – off the bench – against Ireland at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on 25 June 2016.
Kitshoff, who is Springbok #873, has scored two tries in the green and gold jersey.
In second place in the list of most Tests off the bench is another prop Trevor Nyakane (49 Tests) with another frontranker Ollie le Roux tied with scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar on 43 Tests.
Kitshoff is currently on the injured list and will play no part in the Springboks’ Incoming Series matches.
TEAMS
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Ireland
TBA
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17.00
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
MOST SPRINGBOK TESTS AS A SUBSTITUTE
At least 30 Tests played
Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard will stretch their lead as South Africa’s record halfback pairing when they run out against Ireland at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday, 13 July.
Kick-off is at 17:00.
The duo have combined in 26 Tests to date – and will do so for a 27th time in Durban this weekend.
De Klerk and Pollard hold the lead over Joost van der Westhuizen and Henry Honiball (24 Tests), with Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn having paired up in 19 Tests (third most).
Neither De Klerk nor Pollard had memorable Tests last weekend at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria and will be looking to improve in Durban.
De Klerk will be playing in his 58th Test this weekend, while Pollard will wear the green and gold jersey for the 71st time.
Meanwhile, Pollard closed the gap on second-placed Morne Steyn in the list of Springbok Test points scorers last weekend.
Pollard scored 10 points in the Springboks’ 27-20 win over Ireland in the first of their two Tests at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, thanks to two penalties and two conversions.
Pollard now has 708 points in the 70 Tests he has played in the green and gold jersey at an average of 10 points per match.
He trails Steyn by just 34 points and should surpass his fellow flyhalf during the course of 2024.
Pollard’s 708 Test points have come via seven tries, 98 conversions, 154 penalties and five drop goals.
Percy Montgomery remains the top scorer in Springbok history with 893 points in 102 Tests.
SPRINGBOKS TO HAVE SCORED 200 TEST POINTS OR MORE
Finally, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel will set a new, all-time record centre partnership record for South Africa against Ireland at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.
The duo teamed up for the 29th time in midfield last weekend in Pretoria – and both played key roles in helping the Springboks to a 27-20 victory – and to keep their No 1 World Rugby ranking.
That tied the previous record held by Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie.
The Test was De Allende’s 80th in the green and gold jersey, while Kriel made his 70th appearance.
This weekend the pair will break the record when they combine in midfield in the second Test against the Irish after being named in Rassie Erasmus’s team announced on Tuesday.
South Africa has been blessed with a number of world-class midfielders over the years.
From John Gainsford to Tjol Lategan to Hennie le Loux and Japie Mulder in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, to name but a few.
Below, the Springbok centre combinations to have played 10 or more Tests together (correct prior to Durban Test):
Which pairing is the Springboks’ greatest ever halfback combination?
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