On this day in 2008: Australia break South African curse

Sport360 staff 11:24 23/08/2016
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  • Sweet success: Australia.

    Going into this game, Australia had not won on South African soil since 2000 but that all changed eight years ago today.

    Facing the world champions in their own backyard, the Wallabies came out on top, winning 27-15 in Durban as skipper Stirling Mortlock, wing Lote Tuqiri and prop Benn Robinson all scored tries. The Springboks responded with two from centre Adi Jacobs in what proved to be just a consolation.

    It was only the second time Australia tasted success in South Africa while the defeat for the hosts was their third succession and fourth out of five for the season, and effectively ended their hopes for the Tri Nations title with two round remaining.

    Other memorable events on this day:

    1974: Zaheer Abbas scores 250 runs in the drawn third Test between Pakistan and England at the Oval.

    2008: Kelly Holmes wins 800m gold at the Beijing Olympic Games.

    2009: The 12th World Athletic Championships closes in Berlin, Germany.

    2015: Australia captain Michael Clarke ended his international career with a consolation win over England in the Ashes.

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