The numbers behind Rassie's selection for Argentina showdown
STAT ATTACK: Rassie Erasmus has rotated his matchday squad once again as he aims to build depth and test new combinations.
However, there are still several experienced campaigners in the team for the clash against Los Pumas and the stats make for interesting reading.
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A sixth consecutive victory would make this the Boks’ longest winning run in the competition’s history (including the Tri-Nations).
South Africa have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the teams (last losing 19-32 in Mendoza in 2018) and have lost only twice in 16 meetings in total in Argentina.
Handre Pollard needs four points to overtake Morne Steyn (742 points) and move into second place on the Springbok all-time scorers’ list. Percy Montgomery leads with 893 points.
Malcolm Marx’s try against New Zealand in Cape Town saw him increase his tally to 20 Test tries, equalling tenth equal place on the all-time Springbok try-scoring list with James Small. He is already the leading Springbok forward try-scorer.
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Eben Etzebeth will reach the significant milestone of equalling Victor Matfield’s record as the most capped Springbok player with 127 Tests if he takes the field.
This will mark the first Test between the teams at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades in Santiago del Estero.
Los Pumas have won only one of the four Tests played between the teams in Argentina in the last 10 games, which was in Mendoza in 2018.
The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 488.
There are 294 caps in the backline, with 195 caps among the forwards.
On the bench, there are a further 277 caps.
The average caps per player in the backline is 42, the forwards 24, while the players on the bench average 34.