Makazole Mapimpi Could Finish Career as One of the Greatest Springbok Wings
Rising from humble beginnings, Makazole Mapimpi’s rugby journey has been one of inspiration and hope. The former Border Bulldogs and Southern Kings wing has forged a unique path, earning Springbok honors along the way.
This past weekend, the 33-year-old added to his remarkable try-scoring tally with a hat-trick, bringing his total to 30 tries in just 43 Tests. This impressive strike rate places him among the leading Springbok wings, and he now ranks fourth on the all-time try-scorers list.
Mapimpi is just two tries away from equaling Jaque Fourie (32), while eight more tries would see him level with Joost van der Westhuizen (38), who is second on the list. Although he won’t be able to reach Bryan Habana’s sensational 67 tries, there is a strong possibility that the Sharks star could ultimately finish his career as the Springboks’ second-highest try-scorer of all time.
Makazole Mapimpi Not Chasing Springbok Records
Despite his success, the Springbok veteran remains one of the most humble and down-to-earth rugby stars. His incredible professionalism and elite physical conditioning could see him play for years to come.
“It’s a good thing scoring tries, breaking those records that have been there, but it’s not something I am focused on,” Mapimpi told the media in Bloemfontein after his hat-trick against Portugal last weekend.
“It’s something that I can’t control. My focus now is on small things that people can’t see, and it’s only the coaches who can see that. Scoring tries is something I have been doing since back in the days at Border.
“It’s a good thing that sometimes worries me because people want me to score, and it’s a lot of pressure, especially when you see those numbers and people pushing for me to break some records. I try to put that other stuff aside and focus on my game, making sure I do the things the coach wants me to do on the field.
“I’m not really worried about that. If it happens, it’ll depend on how the game is flowing and if there’s an opportunity for me to finish. I’m thankful to my teammates who create those opportunities for me. It’s not about me; it’s about the team.”
Remaining 2024 Fixtures for the Springboks
Here are the confirmed fixtures remaining in 2024 for the Springboks:
- Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
- Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
- Saturday, 31 August: SA vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
- Saturday, 7 September: SA vs New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
- Saturday, 21 September: Argentina vs SA (Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago)
- Saturday, 28 September: SA vs Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
- Sunday, 10 November: Scotland vs SA (Murrayfield, Edinburgh)
- Saturday, 16 November: England vs SA (Twickenham, London)
- Saturday, 23 November: Wales vs SA (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
