Blast from the past: Kirsten doubles up with Test tons against India

Today in SA sports history: December 1

1906 — The Springboks score three tries as they win their first-ever encounter against Wales 11-0 in Swansea. Fullback Steve Coetzee, wing Bob Loubser and forward Klondyke Raaff dotted down, with Coetzee adding one conversion.

1973 — In the first mixed-race professional fight staged in apartheid SA, Pierre Fourie is beaten on points by black American Bob Foster, the world light-heavyweight champion, at the Rand stadium in Johannesburg. The two had fought a few months earlier in the US, with Foster also winning by decision. The promoter, the Toweel-run Springbok Promotions, needed government approval to stage the fight.

1984 — For the first time, SA has two reigning world boxing champions at the same time. Piet Crous outpointed Ossie Ocasio of Puerto Rico for the WBA junior-heavyweight title at Sun City to join WBA heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee. Crous, moving up from light-heavyweight to fight in the newly created division also known as cruiserweight, packed a few kilograms of lead into his pants for the weigh-in to hide his weight disadvantage. But SA’s double champion status lasted a little more than eight rounds, with Coetzee losing his crown to American challenger Greg Page in the main event. The ending was controversial, however, coming in an eighth round that lasted more than three minutes because the timekeeper forgot to ring the bell because he had become too engrossed in the action.

1996 — The Proteas bounce back in the second Test in Kolkata to beat India by 329 runs and level the series at 1-1. During the match Gary Kirsten became the third SA batsman to score a century in each innings, making 102 alongside fellow opener Andrew Hudson (146) in the first innings total of 428 and then 133 in the second innings total of 367/3, boosted by Daryll Cullinan’s unbeaten 153. India, bowled out for 329 in their first stint, were skittled for 137, with Lance Klusener taking a career-best 8/64.   

2000 — Sipho Mantyi is outpointed by Tunisian Ferid Mohammed Benjedou in Avezzano, Italy, for the vacant WBU junior-bantamweight title.

2001 — The Springboks score six tries as they beat the USA 43-20 in a one-off Test in Houston. Fullback Conrad Jantjes went over twice. Prop Lawrence Sephaka made his debut.