State of the Boks: Milestones beckon in blockbuster season

After battering the Barbarians in Cape Town, South Africa’s 2025 Test campaign kicks off against Italy at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, with the teams meeting again a week later at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Boks will then face Georgia in Nelspruit for the first time on South African soil.

The Boks’ Rugby Championship campaign begins with two home fixtures against the Wallabies, at Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium, before heading to New Zealand for a two-match mini-series – including a clash at Eden Park that fans have circled on their calendars. The All Blacks are unbeaten in 50 Tests there since 1994, with the Boks last claiming victory in Auckland in 1937.

The Boks end the Rugby Championship with a double-header against Argentina – at Kings Park and Twickenham

South Africa’s end-of-year tour is highlighted by matches against France in Paris (the teams’ first meeting since the Boks’ 29-28 win in the 2023 World Cup quarter-final at the same stadium) and Ireland in Dublin (the Irish beat the Boks in the pool stage of the 2023 World Cup, and the teams shared a two-match series in South Africa 1-1 last year, as part of a growing rivalry). The Boks will also face lower-ranked Italy and Wales.

With potentially 15 Test appearances up for grabs this season (two Bok Tests have yet to be confirmed), several players are in line to climb the all-time lists.

Three Boks could join the Springbok Test centurion club, which currently boasts seven members. Willie le Roux (98 Tests) is set to join the club either in July or against the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship. Captain Siya Kolisi (92) could hit three figures on the end-of-year tour, depending on how his workload is managed. With Erasmus likely to rest and rotate the team in 2025, Damian de Allende (87) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (86) may have to wait until next year to join Le Roux and Kolisi.

Most capped Springboks

Eben Etzebeth 131

Victor Matfield 127

Bryan Habana 124

Tendai Mtawarira 117

John Smit 111

Jean de Villiers 109

Percy Montgomery 102

Willie le Roux 98

Siya Kolisi 92

Joost van der Westhuizen 89

Ruan Pienaar 88

Damian de Allende 87

Schalk Burger 86

Pieter-Steph du Toit 86

Bakkies Botha 85

On the all-time try-scoring list, winger Makazole Mapimpi (32 tries) is within reach of scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen’s 38. Meanwhile, hooker Malcolm Marx (21) is chasing winger James Small’s 20-try haul. Wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, along with centre Jesse Kriel, all sit on 18 tries and are expected to surpass legendary centre Danie Gerber (19) and winger Stefan Terblanche (19) this season.

Springboks’ top try-scorers:

Bryan Habana 67 (124 Tests)

Joost van der Westhuizen 38 (89)

Makazole Mapimpi 32 (46)

Jaque Fourie 32 (72)

Jean de Villiers 27 (109)

Breyton Paulse 26 (64)

Percy Montgomery 25 (102)

JP Pietersen 24 (70)

Pieter Rossouw 21 (43)

Malcolm Marx 21 (76)

James Small (20) 47

Danie Gerber 19 (24)

Stefan Terblanche 19 (37)

Kurt-Lee Arendse 18 (24)

Cheslin Kolbe 18 (40)

Jesse Kriel 18 (79)

Fourie du Preez 16 (76)

Schalk Burger 16 (86)

On the all-time point-scorers list, flyhalf Handre Pollard (772) can close the gap on fullback Percy Montgomery’s record haul of 893.

Springboks’ top point-scorers:

Percy Montgomery 893 (102 Tests)

Handre Pollard 772 (80)

Morne Steyn 742 (68)

Bryan Habana 335 (124)

Elton Jantjies 331 (46)

Erasmus will serve as Bok head coach for the 40th time, against Italy at Loftus on Saturday, surpassing Jacques Nienaber (39 Tests), who was head coach under director of rugby Rassie. Erasmus will go on to leapfrog both Peter de Villiers and Heyneke Meyer (48 Tests) and – if the Boks do play 15 Tests this year – end the season level with Jake White at the top with 54.

Most Tests as Springbok head coach

Jake White 54

Peter de Villiers 48

Heyneke Meyer 48

Rassie Erasmus 39

Jacques Nienaber 39

2025 Springbok fixtures* (SA times)

5 July: vs Italy, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 5.10pm

12 July: vs Italy, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha, 5.10pm

19 July: vs Georgia, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, 5.10pm

16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg, 5.10pm

23 August: vs Australia, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, 5.10pm

6 September: vs New Zealand, Eden Park, Auckland, 9.05am

13 September: vs New Zealand, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 9.05am

27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban, 5.10pm

4 October: vs Argentina, Twickenham, London, 5.00pm

8 November: vs France, Stade de France, Paris, 10.10pm

15 November: vs Italy, Allianz Stadium, Turin, 2.40pm

22 November: vs Ireland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, 7.40pm

29 November: vs Wales, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, 5.10pm