WATCH: Sbu Nkosi's SUPERB Attacking Display In His Test Debut Against England
- 1900
9 June 2018 marked a crucial point in the Springboks journey to Rugby World Cup glory as Rassie Erasmus secured his first win as Springbok captaining as they extended England's losing streak with a thrilling 42-39 triumph in Johannesburg.
The game saw a number of firsts take place with Erasmus handing RG Snyman, Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sbu Nkosi their first test caps with two of the three going on to win the Rugby World Cup in Japan some 18 months later.
The game also Siya Kolisi become the first Black captain of the Springboks but the star of the show was in fact debut winger Sbu Nkosi.
England took off in the opening stages at Ellis Park, scoring three superb tries as they flew out to a 24-3 lead after just 18 minutes. Yet their advantage disappeared before the break, debutant winger Sibusiso Nkosi crossing twice as South Africa turned the game around to sit 29-27 in front at the break.
The second half failed to match the first in terms of points but England could not avoid a fourth successive Test defeat, a miserable run of form that increased the pressure on coach Eddie Jones a year out from the 2019 World Cup.
Faf de Klerk was named man of the match but Nkosi certainly made his mark on the international stage dotting down twice, making 106 running metres, beat 4 defenders, made 5 clean breaks and all of his 10 attempted tackles.
The then 22-year-old put in some excellent tackles on both the Vunipola brothers as well the likes of Jonny May and Henry Slade but was criticised for his position in the build up to England's early tries.