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Where does Eben Etzebeth rank worldwide in terms of Test caps?

Eben Etzebeth became the sole holder of the record for most Springbok Test caps against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

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Etzebeth broke out of a tie with Victor Matfield and is now the lone holder of the record with 128 caps – and counting.

Where does that put the 32-year-old worldwide in terms of caps won?

The answer?

Sixteenth.

Fellow lock, Wales’ Alun Wyn Jones is the current record holder with 171 (158 for Wales and 13 for the British & Irish Lions).

He’s followed by yet another second-rower, New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock (153).

The backline player with the most Test caps is Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll with 141 (133 for Ireland and eight for the British & Irish Lions).

Immediately ahead of Etzebeth are a trio of players on 129 Tests: Stephen Moore, Florin Vlaicu and Ben Youngs.

Etzebeth still has ample time on his side – considering he will only turn 33 in late October – to take giant strides up the list before he hangs up his studs.

Rank Caps Player Teams Position
1 171 Alun Wyn Jones Wales (158), British & Irish Lions (13) Lock
2 153 Sam Whitelock New Zealand Lock
3 148 Richie McCaw New Zealand Flank
4 142 Sergio Parisse Italy No 8
5 141 Brian O’Driscoll Ireland (133), British & Irish Lions (8) Centre
6 140 James Slipper * Australia Prop
7 139 George Gregan Australia Scrumhalf
8 134 Gethin Jenkins Wales (129), British & Irish Lions (5) Prop
9 132 Keven Mealamu New Zealand Hooker
T10 131 Beauden Barrett * New Zealand Fullback / Flyhalf
T10 131 Cian Healy * Ireland Prop
12 130 Ronan O’Gara Ireland (128), British & Irish Lions (2) Flyhalf
T13 129 Stephen Moore Australia Hooker
T13 129 Florin Vlaicu Romania Centre
T13 129 Ben Youngs England (127), British & Irish Lions (2) Scrumhalf
16 128 Eben Etzebeth * South Africa Lock
* denotes still active

Meanwhile, heading into Saturday’s match at the Mbombela Stadium, Etzebeth, Matfield and Bryan Habana had all tasted victory on 79 occasions while wearing the famed green and gold jersey.

Thanks to South Africa’s resounding 48-7 win, Etzebeth now holds that record alone.

Victor Matfield Eben Etzebeth Bryan Habana
Springbok # 705 833 766
Position Lock Lock Wing
Tests played 127 128 * 124
First Test v Italy, Port Elizabeth, 2001 v England, Durban, 2012 v England, London, 2004
Age on debut 24 20 21
Last Test v Argentina, London, 2015 v Argentina, Nelspruit, 2024 v Italy, Florence, 2016
Age in final Test 38 32 * 33
Test points 35 30 335
Tests won 79 80 79
Tests lost 46 43 42
Tests drawn 2 5 3

* Denotes still active

Below, every Springbok – past and present – to have played 80 or more Tests:

* denotes still active

How many Tests will Eben Etzebeth play before hanging up his boots?

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