On Saturday, the Springboks will take on Italy on the exact same date that they fell to a historic first-ever loss to the Azzurri six years ago.
In a remarkable coincidence, the date will perfectly align between when the Springboks were beaten 20-18 in Florence and when they take on Italy in Genoa on Saturday, 19 November.
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That day in 2016 marked when the Boks arguably dropped to arguably their lowest-ever position in the professional era, in what was an annus horribilis for the national team.
A total of 10 players on the ongoing tour were involved in that match in Florence, including front rankers Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Steven Kitshoff and Trevor Nyakane, flank Pieter-Steph du Toit, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, centre Damian de Allende and fullback Willie le Roux.
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Since then, the Springboks have more than set the record straight and banished those ghosts, beating Italy 35-6 in 2017 and thrashing the Azzurri 49-3 in the pool stage of the 2019 World Cup.
However, South Africa will be under pressure as they go into Saturday’s Test on the back of successive losses to Ireland and France, while Italy stunned Australia at home last weekend.
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Photo: Matteo Ciambelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images
