August 8 down the years
Tries, mud and barbed wire
Scrum.com
More rugby, more protests © Unknown
Enlarge

1981
South Africa recorded an impressive 22-6 victory over a strong Southland side containing three All Blacks, at Invercargill. The game was grim, not helped by driving rain and thick mud and officials were soon worried that a player might become entangled in barbed wire laid around the perimeter to prevent pitch invasions so closely had it been put to the edge of the pitch. Leicester Rutledge, who played for Southland, said that there were not many protestors as they would have been unwise to show their faces in a staunch rugby area. "I remember that the volunteers slept in the dressing sheds at (Rugby Park) when they were patrolling the grounds. Protests were absolutely no concern whatsoever to us. We were oblivious to apartheid. You've got to remember that there wasn't a lot of news coverage back then [so] we never saw any of that. We learned a lot after that, especially after travelling to South Africa. We believed that sport and politics should never mix."

1962
The Lions ran in seven tries during their 34-8 victory over North-East Districts at the Danie Craven Stadium in Burgersdorp. Captain Gordon Waddell, winger Ronnie Cowan and No.8 Mike Campbell-Lamerton all crossed twice, while centre John Brown bagged the other touchdown. The victory represented a timely boost for the tourists on the back of their third Test defeat to the Springboks four days previously, a loss that had ended all hopes of a series win.

1970
Fergie McCormick landed a crucial penalty as New Zealand bounced back from their first Test defeat in Pretoria to edge out the Springboks 9-8 in Cape Town. However, South Africa won the next two Tests to complete a 3-1 series win.

1903
The Lions were upset 12-3 by an Alex Frew-captained Transvaal side. Former Scotland international Frew scored a crucial try during his side's shock win.

1928
New Zealand racked up eight tries during a resounding 35-3 victory over Border in King William's Town.

© Scrum.com

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.