History lesson: South Africa have never lost to Munster

Thursday’s match against SA ‘A’ side will be the first time in the professional era that Munster Rugby face a South African touring side.

Kick-off is at 21:30 (SA time).

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In fact, it will be the first time in 52 years that Munster face the South Africans with a sell-out crowd of 41 400 supporters expected at Páirc Uí Chaoimh making it the largest-ever attendance at a rugby game in the province.

The SA ‘A’ team was named on Monday. The Munster side will be named on Wednesday.

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Last meeting in 1970

While the sides have met on three previous occasions, South Africa remain the only major touring side the province have yet to record a win against.

The previous games took place in 1951 (Thomond Park), 1960 (Musgrave Park) and 1970 (Thomond Park).

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South Africa arrived in Limerick for the first meeting of the teams in December 1951 regarded as the finest team in the world.

It was an agonising defeat for Munster who had a try controversially disallowed with the teams tied at 6-all.

Munster captain Jim McCarthy was outstanding for the hosts and scored the only Munster try (tries counted for three points at the time) but a late converted try for the tourists gave South Africa an 11-6 victory.

Incredibly, South Africa won 30 of their 31 games on that tour of Ireland, Britain and France.

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Munster had to wait nine years for another shot at South Africa and it was an even more painful defeat as two injury-time scores gave the Springboks a 9-3 win in Cork.

Noel Murphy was the Munster try-scorer and the game was tied at 3-all in the final minutes before a South Africa try and penalty broke Munster hearts.

The strength of that South Africa side was underlined by the fact that they beat Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland on that tour.

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The most recent meeting between the teams in 1970 saw South Africa dominate the province in a 25-9 victory. John Moroney kicked three penalties for Munster but the Springboks were far too strong for the hosts.

It was the first time that Munster had been beaten by a touring side by more than six points in that era.

The game took place just three years after Munster’s historic win over Australia, but they were unable to match a determined South Africa side.

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SOUTH AFRICA ‘A’ TEAM TO FACE MUNSTER

15 Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg (Stormers), 13 Henco van Wyk (Lions), 12 Cornal Hendricks (Bulls), 11 Leolin Zas (Stormers), 10 Johan Goosen (Bulls), 9 Herschel Jantjies (Stormers), 8 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), 7 Elrigh Louw (Bulls), 6 Phepsi Buthelezi (Sharks), 5 Ruan Nortje (Bulls), 4 Jason Jenkins (Leinster), 3 Thomas du Toit (captain, Sharks), 2 Joseph Dweba (Stormers), 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu (Sharks)

Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers), 17 Simphiwe Matanzima (Bulls), 18 Sazi Sandi (Stormers), 19 Dan du Preez (Sale Sharks), 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Sharks), 21 Grant Williams (Sharks), 22 Sanele Nohamba (Lions), 23 Gianni Lombard (Lions)