Springbok Centurion Club: The Bittersweet Curse of 100 Tests

The Bitterest Milestone: De Allende's 100th Test Ends in Defeat

JOHANNESBURG — There's a moment every Springbok dreams of: running out at Ellis Park, the gold of the Highveld sun kissing the green of the jersey, 60,000 voices rising as one. For Damian de Allende, that moment arrived on Saturday 22 August 2026 — his 100th Test, his coronation into one of the most exclusive clubs in world rugby.

But the dream turned into a nightmare. The All Blacks stormed Ellis Park and claimed a commanding 33-16 victory, scoring five tries to South Africa's one. Will Jordan was the chief tormentor, crossing for the opening try and then sealing the deal with six minutes remaining. The defeat wasn't just a blow to the Springboks' pride — it cost them the World No 1 ranking, with New Zealand overtaking them at the summit of World Rugby.

For De Allende, the occasion was bittersweet. At 34 years old, starting at inside centre, he joined a club that only 10 of 958 players ever to pull on the green and gold have reached. But the result means he now carries a strange, almost mythical burden: he is the fifth of those ten centurions to have his milestone spoiled by defeat.

The Curse of the Centurion: Five Winners, Five Losers

Let's sit with that statistic for a moment. Ten men have reached 100 Tests for the Springboks. Five walked off the field victorious. Five walked off with the bitter taste of defeat. It's a coin flip — but for a nation that expects victory in the green and gold, it feels like a curse.

De Allende's name now joins a list that includes some of the greatest players South Africa has ever produced. But the pattern is uncanny. Percy Montgomery, the first-ever Springbok centurion, started at fullback against the All Blacks at Newlands on 16 August 2008 — a stone's throw from his alma mater, SACS. The Boks lost that day. Montgomery, who ended his career with 102 Tests and a still-standing record of 893 points, knows the feeling all too well.

John Smit, the second centurion, captained the side against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium on 21 August 2010. The hooker, 32 at the time, also tasted defeat. Victor Matfield, however, broke the pattern just a week later. On 28 August 2010, at his beloved Loftus Versfeld, the lock helped the Boks to a 44-31 victory over the Wallabies — the first Springbok to win his 100th Test.

Then came the strange run of 2014. Bryan Habana reached his century on 6 September against the Wallabies at Subiaco Oval in Perth — a heartbreaking 24-23 loss. Just a week later, Jean de Villiers followed suit against the All Blacks at Wellington Regional Stadium, and the Boks fell 14-10. Two centurions, two defeats, seven days apart.

The Legends Who Conquered the Curse

But the curse isn't absolute. Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira, the first prop to reach 100 Tests, broke the spell in emphatic fashion. On 16 June 2018, at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, the Zimbabwean-born loosehead helped the Boks to a 23-12 victory over England. The Beast, 32 on the day, played 117 Tests in total — a career that cemented his place in Springbok folklore.

Eben Etzebeth, the youngest centurion at just 30, made his 100th Test against Wales at Cape Town Stadium on 16 July 2022. The occasion was made extra special when his wife, Anlia, sang the national anthem before kick-off. The Boks won, and Etzebeth has since gone on to play 143 Tests — the most for the Springboks and the sixth-most of all time.

Willie le Roux had the least stressful 100th Test of them all. On 12 July 2025, at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, the fullback watched his team dismantle Italy 45-0. At 35, he became the oldest Springbok to reach the milestone. Though still active, Le Roux isn't currently part of the Springbok set-up — but his 101 Tests and 75 points stand as a testament to his longevity.

And then there's Siya Kolisi. The man who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice became the ninth centurion on 8 November 2025, captaining the side from flank against France at the Stade de France in Paris. The Boks won that day, and Kolisi has since added four more caps, scoring 70 points via 14 tries in 104 Tests.

De Allende's Legacy: More Than Just Brute Force

So where does De Allende fit in this pantheon? The 34-year-old inside centre has scored 55 points for the Springboks via 11 tries — though he hasn't crossed the whitewash in his last 25 Tests. But his value to the team goes far beyond the scoreboard.

Ahead of the milestone, Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus publicly praised De Allende's contribution to the side, describing his value as extending well beyond physicality. It's a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has watched De Allende's career unfold. He is the kind of player who does the unglamorous work — the crash balls, the defensive reads, the leadership in midfield — that allows others to shine.

Yet the statistic remains stubborn: no Springbok has ever scored a point in his 100th Test. Not Montgomery with his record-breaking boot. Not Habana with his 67 career tries. Not even Kolisi. It's a quirk of fate that seems almost designed to torment — a reminder that individual milestones mean little when the team falls short.

What's Next: Du Toit's Shot at Redemption in Cape Town

All eyes now turn to Pieter-Steph du Toit. The flanker, who captained the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday, sits on 99 caps — one short of joining the centurion club. And the stage couldn't be more perfect: next weekend, the Boks face the All Blacks again, this time in Cape Town.

Will du Toit break the curse? Or will he become the sixth centurion to taste defeat? The pattern is almost evenly split — five wins, five losses — so the odds are as tight as a Test match in the final ten minutes. But there's something poetic about the possibility. Du Toit, a World Rugby Player of the Year, has built his career on defying expectations. If anyone can rewrite the narrative, it's him.

Beyond du Toit, the pipeline is healthy. Jesse Kriel sits on 91 Tests, Malcolm Marx on 90, and Handre Pollard on 87. All three are in their prime, and all three could realistically join the club within the next two years. The centurion club, once so exclusive, is about to get a lot more crowded.

The Bigger Picture: What This Means for SA Rugby

For South African rugby, the centurion club is more than just a statistical curiosity. It's a measure of the game's health, a testament to the depth of talent and the durability of the players who wear the jersey. To reach 100 Tests, a player must not only be world-class — he must be consistently world-class for a decade or more. He must survive injuries, form slumps, coaching changes, and the relentless physical toll of international rugby.

That only 10 of 958 players have achieved this feat speaks to the brutal demands of the sport. But it also speaks to the quality of the current generation. Etzebeth, Kolisi, De Allende, Le Roux, and now du Toit — this is a golden era for Springbok longevity.

And yet, the curse lingers. There's something almost Shakespearean about it — the idea that reaching the pinnacle of individual achievement should coincide with collective disappointment. It's a reminder that rugby, at its core, is a team sport. No individual milestone can compensate for a loss.

The Road Ahead: Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Continues

For De Allende, the 100th Test is done. The milestone is his forever, even if the result isn't. He joins a club that includes some of the greatest names in Springbok history — Montgomery, Smit, Matfield, Habana, De Villiers, Mtawarira, Etzebeth, Le Roux, and Kolisi. That's rarefied air.

But the immediate focus shifts to Cape Town. The All Blacks will arrive at the Cape Town Stadium with the World No 1 ranking and a point to prove. The Springboks will arrive with wounded pride and a desperate need to level the series. And du Toit will arrive with 99 caps, one step away from immortality.

Will he be a winner or a loser on that occasion? Time will tell. But one thing is certain: when du Toit runs out in Cape Town, he'll carry the hopes of a nation — and the weight of a curse that has claimed five of his predecessors.

For the Springboks, the message is clear: the milestone is special, but the victory is everything. As the old saying goes, the jersey is bigger than any individual. And in the centurion club, that truth has never been more painfully evident.

Tags: springboks, damian de allende, all blacks, rugby, siya kolisi, eben etzebeth, rugby championship, south africa rugby

By Dante Williams, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Sources: The South African, EWN, SA Rugby magazine, Reuters.