The 20-18 loss to Italy in Florence this weekend ranks among the most humiliating suffered by twice world champions South Africa:
2002
At London
England 53 South Africa 3
A nightmare match for South Africa, who had a player red-carded after only 10 minutes, and skipper Corne Krige knocked out a team-mate when attempting to punch an opponent.
2006
At Brisbane
Australia 49 South Africa 0
Calls for coach Jake White to quit reached a crescendo after this humiliating reverse. One year later, South Africa beat England 15-6 in Paris to win the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
2015
At Brighton, England
Japan 34 South Africa 32
Just when embattled coach Heyneke Meyer thought his tenure could not become any more tortuous, it did. The Springboks recovered from the greatest Rugby World Cup shock to reach the semi-finals.
2016
At Durban
South Africa 15 New Zealand 57
The All Blacks toyed with clueless opponents, scoring nine unanswered tries. Had it not been for a swirling wind affecting goal-kicker Beauden Barrett, the winning margin would have been even wider.
At Florence
Italy 20 South Africa 18
An Italian team with a clever coach in Irishman Conor O'Shea, an inspirational skipper in Sergio Parisse and a team that performed the basics competently mocked international rankings that placed them 13th, nine positions below South Africa
AFP