Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx are the leading contenders to become the next South Africa players to reach 100 Test caps after Pieter-Steph du Toit joined the exclusive Springbok centurions’ club.
Du Toit earned his landmark cap in the Springboks’ 33-26 victory over New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium on 29 August 2026. The experienced forward became only the 11th South Africa player to play 100 Tests.
His achievement was made even more significant by the result. Du Toit became the first Springbok centurion to defeat the All Blacks in his 100th international appearance.
Before his success in Cape Town, Percy Montgomery, John Smit, Jean de Villiers and Damian de Allende had all faced New Zealand in their milestone Tests and ended the day on the losing side.
The victory added another notable accomplishment to the career of Du Toit, who has been named World Rugby Player of the Year twice and is already regarded as one of South Africa’s outstanding players.
Attention now turns to which of Kriel and Marx will be the next to reach the 100-Test mark. Centre Kriel currently has 92 caps, while hooker Marx has 91.
Both remain regular members of the Springbok squad, making it likely that they will eventually become South Africa’s 12th and 13th centurions. The question is whether Kriel or Marx will get there first.
South Africa are scheduled to play only seven more Tests in 2026, meaning the pair will probably have to wait until the middle of 2027 before joining the prestigious group.
Montgomery became the first Springbok to win 100 caps when he started at full-back against New Zealand on 16 August 2008. The match was played at Newlands, close to his former school, SACS, but South Africa lost 19-0.
Smit was the second South Africa player to reach a century. He captained the team against New Zealand at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 21 August 2010, although the All Blacks won 29-22.
De Villiers became the fifth Springbok centurion on 13 September 2014. His 100th Test was also against New Zealand, this time at the then Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, where South Africa were beaten 14-10.
De Allende was the 10th Springbok to reach the milestone. He made his 100th appearance against New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 22 August 2026, in a match South Africa lost 33-16.
Du Toit became the 11th centurion a week later in Cape Town. His landmark appearance ended with a 33-26 win, creating a unique chapter in Springbok history as he became the first South Africa player to beat New Zealand in a 100th Test.
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