1965 — The Springboks lose their fourth Test in a row, going down 11-18 in their tour opener to Australia in Sydney. The teams scored two tries each, with winger Jannie Engelbrecht going over twice for the visitors. Lock Tiny Naude added a conversion and a penalty, but the difference came from Wallaby centre Beresford Ellwood, who kicked four penalties.
1971 — Down 0-3 at halftime, the Springboks fight back to draw the second and final Test against France 8-8 in Durban. Centre Peter Cronje scores SA’s only try while winger Roland Bertranne goes over for the French. The draw ensures the Boks win the series 1-0. That was the only Test the Springboks would not win that year.
1977 — Alan North’s bid for the 250cc world championship takes a knock as he is prevented from competing in the Yugoslavian Grand Prix after not being allowed into the country because they had broken diplomatic ties with apartheid South Africa. By the time he got to the Czechoslovakia Grand Prix less than two months later the Durban-based racer was riding under the Dutch flag. He was lying second on the world rankings when the Yugoslavian GP kicked off, but had slipped to 10th by the end of the season.
1993 — SA bantamweight champion Derrick Whiteboy’s challenge for the IBF bantamweight title against Orlando Canizales in Houston ends in a no-contest after the bout is stopped in the third round. An accidental headbutt left the champion with a gash on his left eye. The fighters were even on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
1999 — The Springboks score triple figures for the first time as they trounce Italy 101-0 in the second Test at Kings Park in Durban. Winger Stefan Terblanche set the SA record for most tries by an individual, dotting down five times. The Boks scored 15 tries, 13 of which were converted. The Boks won the series 2-0.
1999 — Mzukisi Sikali loses his marginal WBU junior-bantamweight title to Luigi Castiglioni of Italy on a controversial split decision in San Servero, Italy. Sikali had won the belt by stopping Castiglioni the previous year, but this time the Italian ran for 12 rounds, and that was enough to convince two of the judges.
2004 — Wingers Jaque Fourie and Breyton Paulse score tries as the Springboks beat Ireland 26-17 at Newlands to win the two-match series 2-0. With the tourists also scoring two tries, fullback Percy Montgomery made the difference with his boot, kicking both conversions and slotting four penalties.
2010 — The Springboks score four tries to beat Italy 29-13 in Witbank to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
2013 — The Proteas lose to England by seven wickets in their Champions Trophy semifinal at the Oval. David Miller’s unbeaten 56 was the highest score in SA’s 175. England reached the winning target with 75 balls to spare.
2019 — The Proteas post a competitive 241/6 against New Zealand in their World Cup group match in Birmingham, but they are edged into defeat by four wickets with three balls remaining. Kiwi captain Kane Williamson struck an unbeaten 106 to secure the victory.
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