The South African Rugby Union (SARU) called winger Bryan Habana an iconic player on Monday after he became the first Springbok and just the sixth man in history to score 50 Test tries.
Habana’s second try against Samoa in South Africa’s 56-23 win on Saturday took him level with former England winger Rory Underwood and tied for fifth on the all-time list.
Only Japanese wingers Hirotoki Onozawa (55 tries) and all-time leader Daisuke Ohata (69), Wales’ Shane Williams (60) and Australia’s David Campese (64) have scored more Test tries.
Habana’s 50 came in 86 Tests and SARU President Oregan Hoskins said the 2007 World Cup winner had “set a mark that will take a very special player to eclipse”.
Five-eighth Morne Steyn became the second South African to pass 500 Test points in the match against Samoa.