With the Springboks and Wallabies set to lock horns next week in the Rugby Championship, rewind to 1999 when Matt Burke and Stephen Larkham combined to kick South Africa out of the World Cup.
Going into the 1999 World Cup semi-final, the Springboks had won four of their past five Test matches against the Wallabies, a run which included the 61-22 demolition at Loftus Versfeld, which remains South Africa’s biggest winning margin over Australia.
The Wallabies had progressed to the semi-finals after winning all three their pool games and beating Wales in the quarter-finals, while the Springboks had convincingly outplayed England in a 44-21 victory in the first round of playoffs.
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The semi-final between the two teams would go on to be known as one of the greatest 100 minutes of rugby that featured no tries. Australia created the majority of their opportunities through inside centre Tim Horan, who produced a career-defining performance.
The Wallabies went into the break 12-9 up as a shootout took place between fullback Matt Burke and Bok flyhalf Jannie de Beer, who landed a second-half drop goal to level the scores.
Another two penalties from Burke put Australia 18-15 ahead. However, referee Derek Bevan controversially added six minutes on to the clock and then awarded the Springbok penalty, which De Beer converted to take the game to extra time.
Level at 21-21 in the second half of extra time, Wallabies flyhalf Stephen Larkham, not renowned for his kicking ability, found himself in the pocket and slotted a drop goal from 46 metres out. Burke would add an eighth penalty to his tally to seal the Wallabies’ progression to the final.
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Springboks – 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Deon Kayser, 13 Robbie Fleck, 12 Pieter Muller, 11 Pieter Rossouw, 10 Jannie de Beer, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Bobby Skinstad, 7 Andre Venter, 6 Rassie Erasmus, 5 Mark Andrews, 4 Krynauw Otto, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Naka Drotske, 1 Os du Randt.
Subs: 16 Stefan Terblanche, 17 Henry Honiball, 18 Andre Vos, 19 Albert van den Berg, 20 Ollie le Roux, 21 Werner Swanepoel, 22 Chris Rossouw.
Wallabies – 15 Matt Burke, 14 Ben Tune, 13 Dan Herbert, 12 Tim Horan, 11 Joe Roff, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan, 8 Toutai Kefu, 7 David Wilson, 6 Matt Cockbain, 5 John Eales, 4 David Giffin, 3 Andrew Blades, 2 Michael Foley, 1 Richard Harry.
Subs: 16 Jason Little, 17 Nathan Grey, 18 Chris Whitaker, 19 Mark Connors, 20 Owen Finegan, 21 Rod Moore, 22 Jeremy Paul.
Photo: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images
