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Siya Kolisi continues to shine as a pivotal figure in the Springbok lineup this season. After overcoming early injury setbacks, the dynamic flanker has found his rhythm once again, especially since returning to his favored position on the openside.
This Saturday, Kolisi will lead South Africa onto the field for his 97th Test match against Argentina, placing him just three appearances away from joining the elite club of Springbok centurions—only eight players have reached that milestone before him.
Assuming he stays fit, Kolisi is expected to feature in the final Rugby Championship fixture in London, which would bring his tally to 98 caps. That sets the stage for a potential 100th cap during the end-of-year tour.
However, this presents a unique challenge for head coach Rassie Erasmus, who traditionally prefers to celebrate major player milestones on home soil. With five matches scheduled abroad—against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland, and Wales—Kolisi would need to be limited to just one appearance if the team hopes to delay his 100th cap celebration until next year.
Springboks’ Remaining Fixtures for 2025
- 🗓️ 27 September: vs Argentina – Kings Park, Durban (17:10)
- 🗓️ 4 October: vs Argentina – London (15:00)
- 🗓️ 1 November: vs Japan – Wembley (TBD)
- 🗓️ 8 November: vs France – Paris (22:10)
- 🗓️ 15 November: vs Italy – Turin (14:40)
- 🗓️ 22 November: vs Ireland – Dublin (19:40)
- 🗓️ 29 November: vs Wales – Cardiff (17:10)
Fast Facts Ahead of the Weekend
- ✅ South Africa has won 10 of their last 12 matches against Argentina since 2018. The only losses came in Santiago Del Estero (2024) and Mendoza (2018).
- 🏟️ The teams have met three times in Durban. Argentina’s sole win there was in 2015 (37–25); South Africa won the other two.
- 🧢 Kolisi’s 97th cap puts him on the brink of becoming the ninth Springbok to reach 100 Tests.
- 🧱 Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as South Africa’s most capped player with his 137th appearance.
- 👥 Four Springboks have surpassed 90 caps: Etzebeth (136), Kolisi (96), Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Damian de Allende (both on 91).
- 📊 The starting XV boasts a combined 782 Test caps—526 among the forwards and 256 in the backline. The bench adds another 189 caps.
- 📈 Average caps per player: 66 for forwards, 37 for backs, and 24 for bench players.
Kolisi’s journey toward 100 caps is not just a personal achievement—it’s a celebration of resilience, leadership, and excellence. Whether the milestone is reached this year or next, it will be a momentous occasion for South African rugby.
