Bryan Habana to become Springbok Centurion No 4.
Bryan Habana will on Saturday become the fourth Springbok and 33rd player overall to play in 100 Tests when South Africa take on Australia in the third round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at Patersons Stadium in Perth (kickoff 12h05 SA time).
The 31-year-old Habana, who made his debut for South Africa against England at Twickenham on 20 November 2004, holds the record for the most Test tries in a Springbok jersey. His 56 Test tries places him fourth on the list of all-time international try scorers.
The three-time South African Rugby Player of the Year (2004, 2007 and 2012), who was also named the IRB Rugby Player of the Year in 2007, will lead the Springboks out on Saturday as he follows Percy Montgomery, John Smit and Victor Matfield in amassing 100 Tests in the green and gold.
“This is an unbelievable achievement by Bryan, who is someone every South African can be immensely proud of,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.
“Bryan is a true professional and someone who never gives anything but his best, on the field and off it. For him to reach this magnificent milestone is just reward for years of dedication and hard work.
“Apart from scoring tries and always giving 100% on the field, Bryan is also a humble servant to the game and a true ambassador for his family, his friends and his country. He will go down in history as one of the greatest rugby players of all time.
“He is always looking for improvement – I’ve never seen him play a bad game in the Springbok jersey.”
In total, the starting line-up shows six changes from the team which beat Argentina in Salta recently. Jan Serfontein and Morne Steyn will start in the backline, while Marcell Coetzee, Victor Matfield, Adriaan Strauss and Tendai Mtawarira have been included in the pack.
As a result of these changes, Bismarck du Plessis, Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende shift to the bench, while Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe and Pat Lambie will join the uncapped Warren Whiteley on the bench.
“We were always planning in moving our personnel around during the competition,” said Meyer.
“The only new player in the team is Warren, whom I’m very happy for and excited to see what he can do. He covers all three positions in the loose trio and can make an impact later in the game.
“It’s also good to see Pat back in the frame. He’s completed his comeback from a long-term injury and will provide necessary bench cover for flyhalf and fullback.
“Saturday’s Test against Australia will take a massive effort from every member of our squad. We’re not looking at their recent result against New Zealand and we know they will be a tough opponent.
“Similarly, we need to move on from our victories over Argentina, which are now in the past. This is a new challenge and one we have to overcome to stay alive in the competition.”
Springboks:
15 Willie le Roux (17 Tests, 35 points)
14 Cornal Hendricks (5 Tests, 15 points)
13 Jan Serfontein (12 Tests, 5 points)
12 Jean de Villiers (Captain – 98 Tests, 125 points)
11 Bryan Habana (99 Tests, 280 points)
10 Morné Steyn (58 Tests, 670 points)
9 Ruan Pienaar (78 Tests, 135 points)
8 Duane Vermeulen (21 Tests, 10 points)
7 Marcell Coetzee (18 Tests, 20 points)
6 Francois Louw (32 Tests, 25 points)
5 Victor Matfield (Vice-captain – 113 Tests, 35 points)
4 Eben Etzebeth (25 Tests, 0 points)
3 Jannie du Plessis (56 Tests, 5 points)
2 Adriaan Strauss (36 Tests, 25 points)
1 Tendai Mtawarira (57 Tests, 10 points)
Replacements:
16 Bismarck du Plessis (62 Tests, 45 points)
17 Trevor Nyakane (5 Tests, 5 points)
18 Marcel van der Merwe (1 Test, 0 points)
19 Lood de Jager (5 Tests, 10 points)
20 Warren Whiteley (uncapped)
21 Francois Hougaard (29 Tests, 20 points)
22 Pat Lambie (32 Tests, 68 points)
23 Damian de Allende (2 Tests, 0 points)
Stats and facts:
- The Springbok starting team boasts a total of 725 Test caps (358 in the backline and 367 in the forwards), while there a further 136 caps worth of experience on the bench.
- South Africa and Australia have played each other 78 times since 1933, with the Springboks winning 44 Tests, losing 33 and one was drawn. The Springboks have scored 1,501 points and 179 tries and conceded 1,357 points and 139 tries for an average score of 19-17.
- South Africa and Australia last met on 28 September 2013 at DHL Newlands in Cape Town, when the Springboks won 28-8.
- Bryan Habana will be playing in his 100th Test for South Africa, making him only the fourth Springbok in history to reach this milestone. The others are Victor Matfield (113), John Smit (111) and Percy Montgomery (102).
- Habana will also extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 98 Tests in this position and if he scores a try, will extend his record of 56 Test tries for South Africa as well as his Castle Lager Rugby Championship record of 18 tries and will extend his own SA record of nine career tries against Australia.
- Jean de Villiers will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok centre, with 83 Tests in this position. He will also extend his own SA record of 46 Rugby Championship games and will captain South Africa for the 27th time – fourth behind John Smit (83), Gary Teichmann (36) and Francois Pienaar (29).
- Victor Matfield will extend his own record as the most capped Springbok in history (113 Tests). He will also be playing against Australia for the 25th time to become the sole holder of the record he shared with John Smit previously.
- Morné Steyn will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok flyhalf, with 56 Tests in this position. If he scores a try, he will also extend his record of eight Test tries as a flyhalf for South Africa. Steyn scored 137 points in his career against Australia, just three points short of Percy Montgomery’s record of 140 points. He will also extend his own career record for most conversions (16), most penalty goals (32) and most drop goals (3) against Australia.
- If he goes on and scores a try, Bismarck du Plessis will extend his own record of eight test tries for South Africa as a hooker.
- If he goes on Warren Whiteley will become Springbok No 863.
- The referee is George Clancy of Ireland and this will be his ninth Test involving South Africa. In the previous eight South Africa have won six and lost two. His last Test was on 7 September 2013 in the corresponding game of last year’s tournament at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane when the Springboks beat the Wallabies 38-12.
Springbok Test match records at Paterson Stadium, Perth (previously known as Subiaco Oval):
- Most points – 15 by Joost van der Westhuizen (3t) against Uruguay on 11 October 2003.
- Most tries – three by Joost van der Westhuizen against Uruguay on 11 October 2003.
- Most conversions – five by Louis Koen against Uruguay on 11 October 2003.
- Most penalty goals – three by Percy Montgomery against Australia on 18 July 1998; by Braam van Straaten against Australia on 18 August 2001; by Percy Montgomery against Australia on 31 July 2004 and by Percy Montgomery against Australia on 20 August, 2005.
- Most drop goals – one by Percy Montgomery against Australia on 20 August 2005.
- This will be the Springboks’ 10th Test overall at Patersons Stadium in Perth since 1998. In the previous nine, South Africa have won four, lost four and one was drawn. The Springboks have scored 214 points (24 tries) with 174 points against (16 tries). It is a winning percentage of 44% and an average score of 24-19.
30 @ MacroBok:
Precisely.
The selection makes no sense whatsoever.
I sometimes think that the guys that run SA Rugby sometimes have too much to drink in a smokey room somewhere and shit like, “Hey Heyneke, why not give Warren a shot in the upcoming series?”
“Sure no problem, what harm can it do? Gooi me another dop there.” gets said, and a few months later the reminders get subtely thrown out there.
Personally, I think that Nazeem Carr fits the SA style of play far better than WW, and he’s good enough to play international Rugby so why not give him a shot?
The WW soap oprah has been fascinating the last few weeks
“HM will never pick anyone from the ‘smaller’ unions”
“We will miss WW who is only there the carry tackle bags, oh yeah congrats”
“Yeah token Springbok, he will probably not fit the bok mould and will probably get about 4-5minutes just to make him happy, oh yeah congrats”
Jeepers, this is like parliament 😀
@ Scrumdown:
What style of play? vermeulen is a much more rounded player than you think, WW also has his lineout prowess that makes him a good choice, we really missed that in the last two games, and I think that essentially helped him book a ticket to Australasia.
I am happy for the guy, would be nice to build some depth at 8th man, so I hope he does get 15-20 minutes, maybe he is just the catalyst we need.
32 @ MacroBok:
At the end of the day, the Provincialism that pervades SA’s Rugby supporters regarding the National Team is “nearly as bad” as the party political affiliations that are seen daily in SA’s parliament.
(Note I said nearly!)
Janneman will be a FLOP at 13, just like Taute, Engelbrecht, JPP, De Allende.
Beter HM brings in Juan de Jongh or Ebersohn. Even Sithole would be a better selection at 13 than all those he tried already.
A very stale, predictable back line. From Ruan Pienaar through to Cornal. The oy two back line players worth mentioning are Habana and Willie le Roux.
Marcel and Flo did not work well together three weeks ago against Arg. Not sure why it will be any different now.
Our bench is probably the weakest in some time with some out of form players (Bissie, De Allende, Hougie), average players (Nyakane, De Jager, v/d Merwe, Lambie(?)) and a debutant (Whitely).
Can’t see this Bok team beating the Aussies. Not the team that they named for this coming weekend.
Still hoping though.
Also style of play, The Lions have only recently started scoring tries in the Currie Cup against fairly depleted teams, in SR they were pretty much as poor as the Bulls and the Sharks in scoring tries, they heavily relied on the “Bok-Style” kicking game of Boshoff.
34 @ Scrumdown:
This must be a first time though in the Provincial debate that supporters are upset about someone getting selected.
Oh wait I forgot about the Tjarks earlier this year 😀
The problem with the one or two token cap wonders is the future.
At this stage WW seems happy at the Lions and in SA, so all is good, it’s when the player gets an opportunity to play abroad that it becomes a complication.
Jacques Potgieter being a case in point, I’m sure McKenzie would have loved to have him qualify for Oz and to be able to pick him for the Wallabies, but his short stint 2 years ago has put paid to that.
Shaun Sowerby is another one, only capped once years ago, but became a legend in France. Imagine how many French caps he could have earned.
I’m glad HM didn’t do the same to Robert Ebersohn two years ago when everybody was screaming for him to get a Bok call up, he wasn’t in his plans and a single cap could have stopped what could still become a French cap somewhere in future.
Maybe the IRB, or World Rugby or whatever, might look to revise that ruling, if you were capped less than say 5 times, or more than 2 years ago, and you qualify through playing in another country, you may again be capped by them?
@ nortierd:
The French are unhappy with the number of saffers in the team as it is.
@ Nama:
Great innings from faf yesterday.
Back to back tons against the world number one.
So much of average.
😆
@ gunther:
Currently, yes.
Sowerby, when he went over could have accumulated a few caps.
Maybe they are just also gatvol of being French and useless in rugby? 😆
Taking it out on Saffers, those merde ,back peddling, no good in a fight or war (or rugby) bastardoes
@ gunther:
Yeah. Great innings by him. Hope he keeps it up and prove me wrong.
His performance in ODI’s, BEFORE the current series, was average. Even AB alluded to it after his 1st century saying that Faf did not perform well in ODI’s up to then.
38 @ nortierd:
Rule has recently been changed if I’m not mistaken.
If you qualify for a passport of an “adopted” country and you have met the IRB residence requirement (3 years?) then that country can select you to play.
Just had a quick look on the IRB web site but can’t find anything official. Will keep looking.
Faf’s ODI averages, year by year.
2011: 28.8
2012: 27.5
2013: 26.95
2014: 66.83 (including his 1st & 2nd 100 in ODI’s.
Maybe he has turned the corner but he would’ve been called “average” in anybody’s book before this series, given his stats.
@ nortierd:
And 2 years ago JPotgieter had nooo intention of going to NSW.
Showerby and even Allistair Hargreaves(who left for Ireland to play for them eventually, but never thought about that fact that he can’t) are good examples though, even Kees Lensing who played for Namibia before that unbelievable season for the Bulls where he just took apart everyone.
and then there is also Tim Swiel who is keeping England as his “backup”.
How is any Bok coach supposed to predict a players future? and also how else will players be handed debuts if supporter will be happy with nothing less that have that player run on to the field?
Be happy for WW, he deserves a shot, and we need an 8th man.
43 @ Scrumdown:
Think that refers to 7’s and Olympic qualification.
I recall that they changed the rules for the Olympics
@ Nama:
What about his Test and T20 stats?
45 @ MacroBok:
I am happy for WW and am glad he is being rewarded, see post 1
But, if a guy only has 1 or 2 caps, then after a few years of non selection, why can’t he qualify for another country. That’s my question, not the merits of why a specific coach capped and then discarded the player
46 @ nortierd:
Have they officialy changed it though? Or was it a request?
From UK publication The Independent of 28 July 2014.
“New Zealand publication tvnz.co.nz is reporting that ex-internationals have already agreed to represent the Pacific Islands at next year’s World Cup, due to be held in England, while more could be eying the switch with 14 months to go until England get the tournament underway against Fiji.
As long as players haven’t represented their country for the past 18 months, they can participate in either the Sevens World Series or a designated Regional Olympic Qualification Tournament, which would then result in them becoming fully eligible for all forms of rugby for that country.
According to ONE News, Names that have already agreed to the turn out for Tonga include former New Zealand internationals Anthony Tuitavake and Sam Tuitupou, while Australian Test players Mark Gerrard and Sitaleki Timani has also given the move the thumbs up.”
All to do with the Olympics it would seem.
48 @ nortierd:
I agree wholeheartedly.
From theroar.com.au
“As part of the eligibility for the 2016 Olympics, the IRB has recently made an amendment to their previously rigid eligibility criteria. The changes allow for a player to represent a second country provided they hold a passport for that country, haven’t played rugby for their original nation for three years and compete in an Olympic qualifying event.
This could be a single IRB World Sevens Tournament in 2015. Importantly, this law change will come into effect in time for players to switch allegiance and compete in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
A number of countries, including New Zealand, had previously lobbied the IRB for a stand-down period to be introduced to allow players, notably Pacific Island players, to represent another nation on the international stage if their initial international career had ended. Predictably these moves were vetoed with the home unions in particular fervently voting against it.”
45 @ MacroBok:
Hi MacroBok Hargreaves is in England playing at Saracens, was never aware of the fact that he left with the idea of representing Ireland, would presume as Ireland is an independent country that he would have to reside there for a while to qualify for them unless he is an Irish citizen from ancestry.
11 @ Scrumdown:
Geez Scrumdown not for the faint hearted, really hope you have reached the turning point and now just keep on getting better.
From greenandgoldrugby.com
“In 2013, the IRB altered its Regulation 8 governing international eligibility, so as to broaden the strength of the Sevens competition at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The new Regulation 8 stipulates that any player that has not played test rugby for eighteen months and qualifies for the another country via his passport can compete at the Olympic Games so long as he has played in an Olympic qualifying event (ie. a Sevens World Series competition) beforehand. The lag time will be three years, rather than eighteen months, for future Olympic Sevens events.
So far so good. The aim is clear enough: to allow Pacific Islanders who have played for New Zealand or Australia to represent their original countries at the Olympics. Few complaints; after all, the Pacific Islander rugby communities get the shaft in almost every dynamic of the international rugby market. However, the Regulation also stipulates that any player making a switch to a new country would then be prevented from playing for the original country for eighteen months thereafter. This loophole in the IRB eligibility requirements would therefore by default make that player eligible for the new country in full internationals thereafter, including at the 2015 World Cup.
Needless to say, the lawyers at the IRB should be hung out to dry. The organisation has been scrambling to cover up its massive stuff up, publicly confirming that the IRB eligibility requirements loophole won’t be closed: “The Regulation 8 exemption governing eligibility for the Rio Olympics was approved by the IRB in 2013 and applies with a stand down period of 18 months. Any player making the switch would then be tied to that country.””
So it seems to me that the door has been opened to the likes of Jaques Potgeiter etc.
54 @ Bullscot:
Me too Bully, me too.
@ MacroBok:
Think it has been changed for the Olympics
@ MacroBok:
They’re not playing tests or T20’s in Zim.
Gunther mentioned his 2 hundreds in ODI’s and I responded to that.
14 @ Scrumdown:
Ag no man I thought coming from a posh school background you would have seen your blood is Blue, then you would have easily justified a switch jumping ship to support the good guys in Gauteng
MacroBok wrote:
Ha ha, that’s a first on matters not pertaining to how k@k the Sharks are
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