Eben Etzebeth is closing in on another remarkable milestone as the Springbok lock continues to build one of the most decorated international careers in rugby history.
When South Africa face the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday, Etzebeth is set to add another appearance to his record tally as the most-capped Springbok of all time.
The veteran lock is now within touching distance of becoming the first Springbok to reach 150 Test appearances.
Etzebeth closing in on 150
Etzebeth’s appearance against New Zealand will take his Springbok tally to 146 caps, further extending the record he already holds.
The 34-year-old has established himself as a hugely influential figure in the Springbok pack and remains a key option in the No 4 jersey.
There is a realistic chance that Etzebeth could reach the 150-cap milestone before the end of 2026.
Although he could be rested for South Africa’s one-off Test against Australia in Perth on 27 September, the Springboks have four matches scheduled during their November campaign.
If Etzebeth features in all four, he could reach 150 appearances during the Nations Championship finals weekend at Twickenham.
Could Etzebeth chase the all-time record?
Reaching 150 caps would already represent an extraordinary achievement, but Etzebeth could have an even bigger target in sight.
If he remains fit and continues playing international rugby beyond 2026, he could add around 10 more Test appearances next year, particularly if South Africa make a deep run at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
And should Etzebeth decide to continue his career beyond the World Cup, another year or two could potentially put him within range of the all-time international appearance record.
According to the figures supplied, Alun Wyn Jones currently leads the overall list with 170 international appearances, including 158 for Wales and 12 for the British & Irish Lions.
Etzebeth’s 150-cap target would therefore be another major step towards potentially challenging that mark.
Back from injury and hungry for more
For Etzebeth, however, the immediate priority is simply being back on the field.
The experienced lock spent time on the sidelines with injury before returning to Test rugby against Argentina and completing a full 80 minutes.
He then featured in the recent matches against New Zealand and said he was simply delighted to be playing again.
“The injuries were a bit frustrating, obviously, because I couldn’t get a lot of rugby under my belt, but it’s nice to be back.”
Etzebeth also highlighted the value of experience within the Springbok squad, particularly when preparing for a high-pressure encounter against the All Blacks.
He believes the older members of the squad understand how fortunate they are to continue representing South Africa and that sense of appreciation helps drive their performances.
Springboks’ remaining 2026 fixtures
Etzebeth’s potential route to 150 caps could include the following fixtures:
Australia
Sunday, 27 September
Wallabies v Springboks
Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 11:30
Nations Championship
Saturday, 7 November
Italy v Springboks
Allianz Stadium, Turin
Kick-off: 16:00
Friday, 13 November
France v Springboks
Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 22:00
Saturday, 21 November
Ireland v Springboks
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 19:30
27–29 November
Nations Championship Finals Weekend
Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: TBC
For now, Etzebeth’s focus is on the All Blacks. But if his body holds up and he continues to play at the highest level, 150 caps may only be the next chapter in a career that could ultimately take him into international rugby’s record books.
