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Blast from the past: Osler boots Boks to victory over All Blacks in Durban

Flyhalf Bennie Osler kicked 14 points as the Springboks beat New Zealand 17-0 in Durban in 1928.
Flyhalf Bennie Osler kicked 14 points as the Springboks beat New Zealand 17-0 in Durban in 1928. (Gallo Images)

1928 — The Springboks and New Zealand play their first-ever Test in South Africa, facing off in Durban. Bok winger Jack Slater scores the only try of the match, but with flyhalf great Bennie Osler on form with the boot, nailing two penalties and adding two drops, worth four points apiece in those days, the home side score a comfortable 17-0 victory.

1973 — Nkosana “Happy Boy” Mgxaji wins the black version of the South African junior-lightweight crown when he outpoints legendary Anthony “Blue Jaguar” Morodi over 12 rounds in the champion’s backyard at the Jabulani amphitheatre in Soweto. Morodi had won their previous clash the year before, and the pair would fight twice more, with Mgxaji winning both.

2001 — Victor Matfield wins his first Springbok cap as SA beat Wales 60-14 in a one-off Test in Port Elizabeth. Scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen scored two tries from the bench.

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