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Cape Town - Facts and stats ahead of South Africa's Rugby Championship encounter against Argentina in Salta on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 21:40 (SA time).
Miscellaneous:
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 555. There are 175 caps in the backline with 380 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 275 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline are 25, the forwards 48 while the players on the bench average 34.
- The average age of the starting fifteen is 28.
- Eben Etzebeth is the third most capped Springbok lock with his 77 Tests. Victor Matfield (127) and Bakkies Botha (85) are the most capped Springbok locks.
- Tendai Mtawarira is the most capped Springbok prop with his 109 Test matches.
Milestones and records:
- The Springboks need 12 points to reach 1 000 points against Argentina. It will only be the third time that South Africa scored 1 000 points against another country - the other two countries being New Zealand and Australia.
- Handre Pollard needs 17 points to reach 150 career points in the Rugby Championship and two points to reach 50 career points against Argentina.
- Tendai Mtawarira will join Bryan Habana on 53 appearances and the most capped Springboks in the Rugby Championship.
Springbok record against the Pumas in Argentina:
- Played 14, Won 11, Lost 2, Drawn 1, Points for 462, Points against 305, Tries for 54, Tries against 29, Win % 79.
Team records against Argentina in Argentina:
- Most points: 52 - 13 November 1993 in Buenos Aires.
- Most tries: 7 - 13 November 1993 and 9 November 1996, both in Buenos Aires.
- Most conversions: 4 - On five occasions.
- Most penalty goals: 5 - 24 August 2013 in Mendoza.
- Most drop goals: 1 - 5 November 2005 and 15 August 2015, both in Buenos Aires.
Individual records against Argentina in Argentina:
- Most points: 24 by Gaffie du Toit on 4 December 2004 in Buenos Aires.
- Most tries: 2 by seven players, with the late James Small on two occasions.
- Most conversions: 4 by four players.
- Most penalty goals: 5 by Morné Steyn on 24 August 2013 in Mendoza.
- Most drop goals: 1 each by Bolla Conradie (5 November 2005) and Pat Lambie (15 August 2015) both in Buenos Aires.
All Test matches against Argentina:
- Played 28, Won 24, Lost 3, Drawn 1, Points for 988, Points against 563, Tries for 118, Tries against 53, Win % 86.
Team records:
- Most points: 73 in Johannesburg on 17 August 2013.
- Most tries: 9 in Johannesburg on 9 August 2008 and on 17 August 2013.
- Most conversions: 9 in Johannesburg on 9 August 2008.
- Most penalty goals: 5 in Mendoza on 24 August 2013.
- Most drop goals: 1 on two occasions (5 November 2005 and 15 August 2015) in Buenos Aires
Individual records:
- Most points: 28 by Morné Steyn (8c, 4p) in Johannesburg on 17 August 2013.
- Most tries: 2 by 14 players with the late James Small on two occasions.
-Most conversions: 9 by Butch James in Johannesburg on 9 August 2008.
-Most penalty goals: 5 by Morné Steyn in Mendoza on 24 August 2013.
Most drop goals: 1 each by Bolla Conradie (5 November 2005) and Pat Lambie (15 August 2015) both in Buenos Aires.
Career records:
- Most caps: 16 by Tendai Mtawarira and 15 by Eben Etzebeth
- Most tries: Bryan Habana - 8
- Most conversions: Morne Steyn - 15; with Handre Pollard on 9.
- Most penalty goals: Morne Steyn - 18; with Handre Pollard on 10.
- Most points: Morne Steyn - 84; with Handre Pollard on 48.
Match officials:
- The referee is Romain Poite of France. This will be his 12th Test match as a referee with South Africa involved and the 63rd Test match in his career.
- The Assistant Referees are Matthew Carley and Karl Dickson, both from England, while Rowan Kitt, also from England, will be the television match official (TMO).
Teams:
Argentina
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Matias Alemanno; 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Gonzalo Bertanou, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Joaquin Tuculet
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel
