As the countdown continues to the 2022 Rugby Championship opening clash between the Springboks and All Blacks, look back to 2008 when a last-gasp Ricky Januarie try secured South Africa’s first win in Dunedin.
The Boks had never won in 87 years of visiting Carisbrook and the world champions went into the match on the back of a 19-8 loss in Wellington a week earlier.
The winless run looked set to be extended as the South Africans found themselves trailing 28-23, with captain Victor Matfield in the sin bin and just over seven minutes left on the clock. Enter Januarie.
Sniping around the edge of a ruck near the All Blacks 10-metre line, the nuggety scrumhalf broke free before chipping over Leon MacDonald, regathering and going over for a magnificent solo effort.
Frans Steyn added the extras as the Boks found pleasure at the infamous ‘House of Pain’ with a 30-28 victory.
ALSO: ‘Wounded’ All Blacks revved up for Boks
All Blacks – 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Rodney So’oialo (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Kevin O’Neill, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.
Springboks – 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Francois Steyn, 22 Conrad Jantjes.
CLASSIC CLASHES: Steyn puts All Blacks to the sword
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
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