The green and gold centurion club is about to welcome another legendary figure. With regular skipper Siya Kolisi sidelined due to a lingering hamstring strain, double World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit has taken the captaincy reins for this Saturday’s highly anticipated international Test against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld.
Beyond the honor of leading the world champions on home soil, the 33-year-old loose forward is standing on the precipice of rugby immortality. Following the Springboks’ dominant triumph over England—where superstars Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse celebrated their milestone 50th Test caps—Du Toit earned his 96th cap. Taking the field against Scotland brings him to 97 caps, leaving him just three matches away from hitting the magical 100-Test cap milestone.
The Roadmap to 100 Caps
With Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus heavily rotating the squad, management is carefully calculating Du Toit’s path to the century mark:
- July 11 vs Scotland (Pretoria): Du Toit earns cap number 97 while captaining the side.
- July Mid-International vs Wales: Expected to be rested along with senior veterans to manage structural fatigue.
- August 8 vs Argentina: Tipped to return for the one-off home clash, securing cap 98.
- The “Greatest Rivalry” Tour: This aligns his monumental 100th Test cap perfectly with the massive four-Test home series against the All Blacks later this season.
Key Historical Stats: Springboks vs Scotland
The clash in Pretoria carries immense statistical weight as the Boks aim to extend a decade-long dominance over the visitors.
- The Streak: South Africa has won nine consecutive Tests against Scotland. The Scots’ last taste of victory in this fixture came 16 years ago in a tight 21-17 win at Murrayfield in 2010.
- Pretoria Debut: In over a century of rugby rivalry, this marks the first time the Springboks will face Scotland at Loftus Versfeld. Scotland has played at the venue four times previously (three times during the 1995 World Cup and once against Italy in 2013), but never against the hosts.
- Highveld Fortifications: The teams have only met on the Highveld once before—a grueling 28-19 Springbok win in Johannesburg back in 2003.
- Experience Chart: The Springbok starting XV named by Rassie Erasmus boasts a collective 445 Test caps (274 in a heavily experienced backline and 171 among a rotated forward pack).
