The matchday 23 has an average age of 30.8 years, with 15 players who are 30 or older.
Jesse Kriel, Ox Nché and Damian de Allende are among 15 Springboks aged 30 or more in Saturday’s matchday 23. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
While the average age of players in Saturday’s Springbok team is just under 31, their experience and work ethic are invaluable, said inside centre Damian de Allende.
The 34-year-old is one of four Test centurions who will line up in the final Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry match in Baltimore (kick-off 11.10pm).
Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit are the other centurions, while Jesse Kriel (93), Malcolm Marx (92),Ox Nché (51), Lood de Jager (76) and Cobus Reinach (56) have more than 50 caps.
The matchday 23 has an average age of 30.8 years, with 15 players who are 30 or older.
Last week’s team would have been slightly older, having Cheslin Kolbe, 32, at fullback instead of Damian Willemse, 28.
Experience matters
Still, that side put in a huge performance to beat the All Blacks 29-24 in Soweto and secure an unassailable 2-1 lead going into the final Test.
“I think the experience is quite important,” De Allende said.
“A lot of us talk about what goes on on the field and what we can do better in certain situations.
“But there is a big sense of responsibility, not just individually but collectively, to make sure that we keep representing South Africa well and to the best of our ability.
“I know we are getting a bit older,” he chuckled. “But it feels like we are working a lot harder than we did when we were younger.”
The team has 927 caps in total – an average of 40.3 per player. There are 327 caps in the backline, 600 among the forwards and 277 on the bench.
The average caps per player in the backline is 47, the forwards 75, while the players on the bench average 35.
“I speak on behalf of all the older guys who have been fortunate enough to be here a while: I think we understand how hard we are working.
“That is why we are playing at such a high level and why we are still very competitive and can still compete with the best in the world.”
Springbok experience lifts preparation
De Allende commended midfield teammate Jesse Kriel, who has long been the Springbok defence general.
“He’s the one who takes control of it a lot. The way he speaks about defence and is proud about it, he brings that across.
“He gets all the players to buy in that what we’re doing is correct.”
De Allende said much of the Springbok defence is based on split-second decisions and instinct. But 90% was analysis and preparation.
After three Tests, the coaches and experienced players knew more or less what to expect.
