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Blast from the past: Boks down world champs in World Cup opener

Today in SA sports history: May 25

Joel Stransky in action in the 1995 Rugby World Cup opening match against Australia at Newlands.
Joel Stransky in action in the 1995 Rugby World Cup opening match against Australia at Newlands. (Gallo Images)

1980 — Jon Ekerold wins the 350cc race in the French Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard circuit near Marseille. 

1995 — The Rugby World Cup in SA kicks off at Newlands with the hosts taking on defending champions Australia. The visitors took an early lead but the Springboks hit back to score a solid 27-18 victory. Pieter Hendricks scored a try after running around Wallaby legend David Campese and flyhalf Joel Stransky scored in the second half to add to his four penalties, single conversion and a drop. That remains the only occasion that the Boks have beaten Australia in a World Cup match, having lost to them twice since, in the semifinals in 1999 and the quarterfinals in 2011. 

1999 — Mkhuseli Kondile, relieved of his SA junior-lightweight strap in his previous fight, is stopped in the third round by IBO lightweight title-holder Michael Ayers of England in London. 

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