Mtawarira's Hundred Test in the Springbok Jersey

The following from News 24:-

"Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira will earn his 100th Test cap on Saturday, becoming only the sixth South African to do so when the Springboks take on England in their second Test in Bloemfontein.

Kick-off is at 17:05.

It will be a massive moment for the 32-year-old, who will become the first black South African, and first prop, to reach that milestone. 

When Mtawarira is named in the starting line-up for the clash later on Thursday, it will mean that he has started 91 of his 100 Tests; a seriously impressive statistic for a loosehead prop. 

Here, we look at the five men who came before the 'Beast' and examine how their 100th Test cap turned out. 

For one, the occasion ended in celebration while, for the four others, a Bok loss meant the day was bittersweet. 

Let's hope Beast can celebrate his special day with another win over England - and a series victory. 

1. VICTOR MATFIELD (127 Tests)

August 28, 2010: SA 44-31 Australia (Pretoria)

Matfield, South Africa's most capped player ever, started his 100th Test on his home patch at Loftus alongside Flip van der Merwe in the second row. The Boks were too good for the Wallabies that day, running in five tries to secure victory in front of the fans that loved Matfield most. Matfield was his usual dominant self in the lineouts, while he also chipped in with nine tackles on the day. 

2. BRYAN HABANA (124 Tests)

September 6, 2014: Australia 24-23 SA (Perth)

Habana's 100th Test for the Boks could have ended so differently. The Boks, through six Morne Steyn penalties and a try from Cornal Hendricks, led the Aussies 23-17 going into the final 10 minutes. But a late Rob Horne try won it for the hosts. The interesting thing about that try is that it came with the Boks down to 14 men after Habana himself had been yellow-carded in the 65th minute.

3. JOHN SMIT (111 Tests)

August 21, 2010: SA 22-29 NZ (Johannesburg)

Smit, like Habana, had a cruel end to his milestone match. The Boks were up by five points and on course for a famous win heading into the final five minutes, but two late All Black tries stunned Smit and the Ellis Park crowd. Smit dropped to one knee in disbelief after the final whistle was blown, and as his wife and kids took to the field to join him for what should have been a celebration, the disappointment on his face was there for all to see. 

4. JEAN DE VILLIERS (109 Tests)

September 13, 2014: NZ 14-10 SA (Wellington)

It was always going to be a tough ask for the Boks to give De Villiers a 100th Test win, but they did put up a fight to be proud of. The Boks went into half-time with a 7-6 lead thanks to a Cornal Hendricks try, but they fell just short in a gruelling second half. De Villiers, playing in the No 12 jersey, left everything out on the park as he threw himself into tackles and made 12 runs for the Boks.

 5. PERCY MONTGOMERY (102 Tests)

August 16, 2008: SA 0-19 NZ (Cape Town)

South Africa's all-time leading points scorer couldn't get on the board at all on his big day. The Boks were outplayed in every department. Montgomery was poor, missing two kickable penalties to get the Boks moving, and he was replaced before the hour mark. Montgomery was the first Bok to reach 100 Tests, but how that Test unfolded will not be something that he savours."

 The above makes for interesting reading and the following should be borne in mind:-

*    De Villiers' 100 game could have been won did Matfield not fumble a ball in the line-out minutes before the end of the game.  There was a penalty awarded to the Springboks and since they were 4 points behind a kick to the corner resulted with the aim of a rolling maul to follow.   However, it did not work out - since Matfield buggered up badly.

*    Habana's hundredth game could also have been a victory if Morne Steyn did not miss a penalty line kick he was supposed to make from within the Springboks 22.   It was a kick landing about 5 meters within the field of play - if it was out Habana would have returned after his yellow card and he Springboks would have retained possession.   However, Morne Steyn did his normal and missed the line kick - there were   nine occasions it happened in tests he played in that year.   

So who may foul up on Saturday - we will soon find out who the potentials are.     

Quota player. A shame the other guy does not start, best prop in the world, would turn every scrum.

Trad, you have a real quota mentality.  Beast is a great servant of Bok rugby. He was very consistent over the past 10 years. A worthy successor for Os. Kitsie is the younger player that would have started much more tests if it wasn't for beast, but the xp of 100 tests is gold for Rassie. Kitsie will get more starts in the near future , but if Beast can stay fit, he'll be in the squad for the RWC next year. I recognize your sarcasm, but mentioning the Q in the same breath as Beast is not the way to pass your message. 

PS, Beast was in the starting team that beat the Allblacks 3-zip in 2009. ..No small feat.

Congrats to the Beast. IMO he has been a steady performer and serve Bok rugby well. Lately he seems to have had some really good games so he is not on the decline yet.

Far from over the hill JW. Ther's more than a few matches left in the tank. I want to see Kitsie and one other good 1 being given match time, but Beast should stay in the mix. 

Traditionalist

To call out a player who has clocked up 100 test matches as a quota player sums up your total ignorance.

Go back to your own quiet little corner and blabber to yourself you blithering fool, no-one here give a rats what you think.

Clearly you have a thick skin, any normal person would be embarrassed.

This is the first, last and only time that I will e we defend Trad, but I think he was actually being sarcastic.

See Trad, when you behave like an asshat nobody gives you the benefit of the doubt.

Slightly off topic but I have a guy from Zim who works for me and he is very Beast like in his ways.

Works hard, slow to anger and as reliable as it gets.

Strangely he looks a bit like Beast too.