Mark Andrews won 77 Test caps for South Africa which made him the most capped forward in Springbok history. Andrews and Krynauw Otto also held the Springbok record for most Tests as a lock combination in the starting line-up. Both records have since been surpassed.

The headband donning Andrews was one of the finest lineout exponents of his generation due to his sensational athleticism and timing. He made his international debut against England in Cape Town on June 11, 1994, a match South Africa won 27-9.

He started alongside Hannes Strydom in the opening game of the 1995 World Cup and scored a try in the quarter-final clash against Samoa. Highly respected Springbok coach at the time Kitch Christie gambled by naming Andrews at No 8 for the crunch semi-final against France at Andrews’ home ground, Kings Park (Absa Stadium).

The Sharks legend did such a stellar job that he was retained at the back of the scrum for the epic final against New Zealand at Ellis Park the following week. The switch provided South Africa with three lineout options and a massive pack. Despite wearing No 8 on his back, Andrews remained the primary lineout jumper.

The experiment paid off as South Africa famously toppled the All Black 15-12 to lift the William Web Ellis trophy but it would be the last time Andrews played in the back row for the Boks. He played in 13 Tests the following year and in the first two Tests against the British & Irish Lions in 1997.

He earned a Tri-Nations winners’ medal in South Africa’s first-ever Tri-Nations triumph in 1998 and participated in his second World Cup in 1999. Andrews played two more seasons for the Boks before he bowed out from the international stage after the 29-9 defeat to England at Twickenham in November 2001.

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