When the Springboks face Italy on Saturday, it will be six years to the day they fell to a humiliating first loss against the Azzurri.

In a remarkable coincidence, the date will perfectly align between when South Africa 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 position in the professional era, in what was an annus horribilis for the national team.

As many as 10 players on the current tour were involved in that match, including front-row heavyweights 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 world champions have more than set the record straight and banished those ghosts, beating the Azzurri 35-6 in 2017 before thrashing them 49-3 in the pool stage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

However, Jacques Nienaber’s charges will be under pressure going into Saturday’s Test on the back of successive losses to Ireland and France, while Italy stunned Australia at home last week.

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Photo: Matteo Ciambelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images