1908 — Charles Hefferon is the first South African to finish fourth at an Olympics, an unfortunate result that has afflicted the nation at every Games it has competed at up until and including Tokyo 2020. Hefferon missed the podium in the five mile (8km) event by less than seven seconds, failing to hold on after taking the lead with two laps to go. But he had the consolation of winning a marathon medal five days later.
1997 — A last-gasp penalty attempt by flyhalf Jannie de Beer bounces off the crossbar to give the All Blacks a 35-32 Tri-Nations victory at Ellis Park. The visitors won the try count 4-2, with centre Frank Bunce scoring two. SA fullback Russell Bennett and hooker Naka Drotske dotted down for SA, with De Beer keeping the hosts in the game via two conversions, four penalties and two drops — until his final shy.
1997 — Mbulelo Botile is dethroned as IBF bantamweight champion, losing on an eighth-round stoppage by American Tim Austin in Nashville, Tennessee.
2003 — The Springboks suffer their biggest defeat against the All Blacks and their worst on home soil, going down 16-52 in a Tri-Nations match at Loftus Versfeld. The Kiwis ran in seven tries to the lone five-pointer by SA winger Ashwin Willemse.
2008 — The Springboks concede two tries without reply as they are beaten 9-16 by Australia in a Tri-Nations match in Perth. Frans Steyn kicked two penalties and flyhalf Butch James one.
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