The rugby journey of Makazole Mapimpi has been one of inspiration and hope, with the former Border Bulldogs and Southern Kings wing forging a unique path through to earning Springbok honours.
This past weekend the 33-year-old added to his remarkable try-scoring tally with a hat-trick taking his tally to 30 tries in just 43 Tests.
That remarkable strike rate already places him among the leading Springbok wings, while he is now fourth on the all-time try-scorers list.
Mapimpi is just two tries away from equalling Jaque Fourie (32), while eight more tries would take him level with Joost van der Westhuizen (38), who is second on the list.
Mapimpi won’t be able to reach the sensational 67 tries recorded by Bryan Habana, but there is every chance 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
The Springbok veteran remains one of the most humble and down-to-earth rugby stars, but 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 that 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 on the side and try to focus on my game and make 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.”
Here is a look at the confirmed fixtures remaining in 2024 for the Springboks.
REMAINING 2024 FIXTURES:
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 v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v SA (Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago)
Saturday, 28 September: SA v 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)