Blast from the past: Boks boot their way to World Cup glory

Today in SA sports history: October 20

1979 — In the biggest boxing fight held in SA, Gerrie Coetzee loses in his first bid for the world heavyweight title that had been vacated by Muhammad Ali. The Boksburg Bomber lost a 15-round unanimous points decision to American John Tate. More than 80,000 fans packed into Loftus Versfeld to watch the showdown between the two undefeated boxers.

1984 — Nick Mallett and Michael du Plessis are among five debutants as the Springboks beat a South American team 32-15 at Loftus Versfeld. SA scored five tries in all, by Mallett and his Western Province teammates Rob Louw and captain Divan Serfontein, Eastern Province centre Danie Gerber and Northern Transvaal fullback Johan Heunis. Flyhalf Errol Tobias kicked two conversions and two penalties, with Gerber landing a conversion.

1994 — The Proteas are beaten by Pakistan by 39 runs in an ODI in Rawalpindi. Chasing 250, Hansie Cronje top-scores with 53 as SA complete their innings on 210/5.

2000 — Nicky Boje scores an unbeaten 105 off 93 balls against New Zealand in Potchefstroom, but the opening match of the six-ODI series is rained out for a no-result.

2007 — The Springboks win the World Cup for the second time as they beat defending champions England 15-6 in the final at Stade de France. For the second time in World Cup history, there were no tries in the final, with fullback Percy Montgomery kicking four penalties and centre Frans Steyn one. England retaliated with two penalties through flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson. The other try-less final was the other time SA won, in 1995.

2007 — Graeme Smith’s 65 is not enough as the Proteas lose the second ODI to Pakistan in Lahore by 25 runs. The hosts, levelling the five-match series at 1-1, scored 265/9, boosted by a Mohammad Yousuf century.

2019 — Left-wing Makazole Mapimpi scores two tries as the Springboks oust hosts Japan 26-3 in their World Cup quarterfinal in Tokyo. Japan had beaten Ireland and Scotland in their group matches with their exciting running style, but they were shut down by an impenetrable SA outfit, that had led 5-3 at halftime.