Springboks wing Makazole Mapimpi vs Argentina. Photo: SA Rugby website.
Springbok numbers: Mapimpi & Koch stats that’ll BLOW YOUR MIND
Springbok duo Makazole Mapimpi and Vincent Koch are set for milestone appearances in South Africa’s second match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Sunday.
Springboks wing Makazole Mapimpi vs Argentina. Photo: SA Rugby website.
Mapimpi and Koch have both been selected in the Springboks’ starting lineup for their Pool B Test against Romania in Bordeaux on Sunday. Here’s why it’ll be a special occasion for them.
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MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI MILESTONE
His selection will see Mapimpi earn a starting berth at wing in a Test for the Springboks for the 39th time, making him the joint-fifth on the list for Test starts at wing for South Africa. He draws him level with Pieter Rossouw on the all-time list.
KOCH KEPT ON
This will be Vincent Koch’s first Test start for the Springboks since the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, where he was a starter in their pool game against Canada on 8 October 2019. Since then, he powered the famous Bomb Squad as a super-sub, playing off the bench in 28 Springbok Tests.
SPRINGBOK STATS AND FACTS
South Africa’s record against Romania:
Played 1, Won 1. Points for: 21, Points against: 8. Tries scored: 2, Tries conceded: 1. Win %: 100%.
Milestones:
- Makazole Mapimpi will start at wing for the 39th time in his Springbok career, which will place him joint-fifth on the list of most Test starts at wing for the Springboks with Pieter Rossouw.
- This will be Vincent Koch’s first start for the Springboks since the RWC pool game against Canada on 8 October 2019. Since then, he has played off the bench in 28 Tests.
- Only one Springbok has scored a try against Romania – Adriaan Richter. The No 8 scored both the Springboks’ tries in their RWC pool game against the Oaks in 1995, a match in which he captained South Africa.
Miscellaneous:
- The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 484.
- There are 216 caps in the backline, with 268 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 326 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is 30, the forwards 33, while the players on the bench average 40.
QUESTION | Do the Boks have sufficient hooker cover?
VINCENT KOCH HAS BEEN AFFORDED A RARE START
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