Eben closes in on Matfield’s record

Eben Etzebeth will on Saturday tie Bryan Habana as the second-most capped Springbok in history as the enforcer continues to hunt down Victor Matfield’s record.

Etzebeth is set to earn his 124th Test cap after being named on the bench for the Rugby Championship second-round clash against the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday.

Should he come onto the field, the 32-year-old will draw level with Habana in second place on South Africa’s all-time appearance list, with Matfield holding the record on 127 Tests.

Should Etzebeth play both home Tests against the All Blacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town, he would be on track to break Matfield’s record in the Test against Argentina in Santiago (21 September) or, if he sits out that game, against Los Pumas in the final round of the tournament in Nelspruit.