As the Springboks prepare for their intense end-of-year tour, all eyes are on captain Siya Kolisi, who is on the brink of an incredible achievement.
After leading South Africa to a victory over Argentina this past weekend, Kolisi notched his 97th Test appearance.
With the upcoming clash against Argentina in London this Saturday, the inspirational leader is set to add yet another cap to his tally.
Home Celebration May Have to Wait
While Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has historically tried to ensure that milestone games—like a player reaching 100 Test caps—are celebrated in front of home fans in South Africa, it looks unlikely that Kolisi will get that luxury this time.
The scheduling of the Springboks’ five-match end-of-year tour, including critical games against France and Ireland, means that Kolisi’s milestone will likely occur overseas rather than at home.
Milestones and Selection Decisions
Kolisi is closing in on becoming the ninth Springbok centurion, a historic achievement in South African rugby.
However, Erasmus emphasized that emotional considerations can’t dictate team selection.
“There are so many emotional decisions one has to make,” Erasmus said.
“We are tight and very good friends, and there’s a mutual belief in each other.
We have (Makazole) Mapimpi, who is on 47 caps, and we want to get him to 50 Tests, and Siya has 97 caps.
You can’t always plan where players will earn their 100th Test cap.
If you start thinking too much about it, that’s when you start risking losing Tests sometimes.
Whether he does it against France or wherever it may be, we will celebrate it there when it happens.”
Springboks’ Remaining Fixtures for 2025
The Springboks have a packed schedule in the final months of the year, offering plenty of high-stakes rugby for fans to enjoy:
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4 October: vs Argentina, London | Kick-off: 15:00
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1 November: vs Japan, Wembley | Kick-off: TBD
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8 November: vs France, Paris | Kick-off: 22:10
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15 November: vs Italy, Turin | Kick-off: 14:40
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22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin | Kick-off: 19:40
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29 November: vs Wales, Cardiff | Kick-off: 17:10
With such a lineup, Kolisi’s milestone Test may not coincide with home soil celebrations, but the Springboks and fans worldwide are ready to honor his remarkable career whenever it comes.