Milestones: Players to watch

Johannesburg - Springbok captain John Smit is set to become only the second South African to play in 100 Test matches when he leads the Boks onto the field at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.

This will be the first Test match at this venue since the stadium’s completion in 1988. For the duration of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament the stadium was known as Soccer City.

This Test will be the 81st between South Africa and New Zealand and the 34th Vodacom Tri-Nations Test between them.

South Africa’s Vodacom Tri-Nations record against New Zealand is: Played 33; Won 10; Lost 23. Tries scored 60 and tries conceded 84.

Milestones and Record Watch:

• John Smit will play his 100th Test match for South Africa, of which 74 would be as captain. Should John score a try, he will equal the Springbok record for most tries in Tests as a hooker. The current record is jointly held by James Dalton and Bismarck du Plessis with five career tries. John will be playing in his 26th Vodacom Tri-Nations Test as captain, the most capped captain in the tournament.
  
  

• Victor Matfield will play his 23rd Test against New Zealand, the most capped Springbok against New Zealand. This Test will also be his 40th Tri-Nations Test, the third most capped player in the tournament with George Gregan (48) and George Smith (41) being the top two players.
  
  

• Bryan Habana needs one try to become South Africa’s most prolific try scorer in Tests. Bryan currently shares the record with Joost van der Westhuizen with 38 Test tries. Bryan will become the most capped Springbok wing (63) in this Test.
  
  

• Morné Steyn is one of only eight players who scored more than 100 career points in the Vodacom Tri-Nations (117 in nine
  appearances). Dan Carter tops the list with 412 points in 29 appearances. Morné needs one drop goal to equal André Pretorius’ tournament record of four career drop goals and two penalty goals to equal Percy Montgomery’s record of 20 career penalty goals against New Zealand.
  
  

• Should CJ van der Linde score a try, he will equal the Springbok record for most tries in Tests as a prop. The current record is jointly held by Chris Koch and Os du Randt with five career tries.
  
  

• Should Pierre Spies score a try, he will become the sole Springbok record holder for most tries in Tests as an eighthman. The current record of six career tries is jointly held by Gary Teichmann, Joe van Niekerk, Bob Skinstad and Spies.
  
  

• The career record of tries scored in the Vodacom Tri-Nations is 16 by Christian Cullen. The most career tries by a Springbok are seven scored by Breyton Paulse, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana. Joe Rokocoko is currently in second spot with 15 career tries.
  
  

• New Zealand need one try to equal South Africa’s record for most tries in a Vodacom Tri-Nations season. South Africa scored 18 tries in the 1997 tournament.
  
  

• Should the All Blacks win this Test they will equal their own record of 23 tournament log points in the 2006 season.

Other notable record holders are:

Butch James: Most capped Springbok flyhalf – 34.
John Smit: Most capped Springbok hooker – 84, most capped Springbok forward – 99.
Victor Matfield: Most capped Springbok lock – 98.
Schalk Burger: Most tries in Tests as a flank – 11, also most capped Springbok flank – 58.