A century ago, Paul Roos led the first touring Springbok side to a 29-0 win over a Midlands XV at Leicester.
Today, Chiliboy Ralepelle will captain South Africa against a World XV in the same English city and make his own indelible mark on history.
Twelve years after the official death of apartheid, Ralepelle will become the first black African to captain the side and, at 20, the youngest as well.
PHOTO: AFP
Had South Africa not overcome world champions England 25-14 last week, after a record 32-15 defeat by Ireland and a 23-21 reverse in the first Test against England, Ralepelle would not have been able to take the reins from John Smit under such benign circumstances.
As it was, Jake White survived a grilling from South African rugby's powerful Presidents' Council in Cape Town on Wednesday and returned to the UK on Thursday to resume coaching the side.
Having at least beaten England at Twickenham for the first time since 1997, a positive result at the Walkers Stadium is not of such paramount importance.
Instead the players can get down to the business of making money. Festive matches such as these are money-spinners and South Africa are playing their second game against a World XV this year.
In June, the Boks put on a lackluster performance to overcome the World XV 30-27 at Johannesburg's Ellis Park, but today's outing against former Australia coach Bob Dwyer's outfit should be a more entertaining affair.
The Boks have retained only five players from the side that beat England on Nov. 25 and what remains is a mainly youthful team with a host of attacking players.
But the spotlight is set to be on Andy Farrell, the former Great Britain rugby league skipper, who is playing his first major match since switching codes.
England, with their worst run of form in decades and having forced Andy Robinson out of his job as national coach, are desperate for positive news and Farrell comes closest to fitting the bill.
Castaignede said Saracens teammate Farrell had it in him to be the "next Will Greenwood," a reference to the now retired England World Cup winner.
England, however, are not only in seach of a new coach and midfield playmaker but possibly a captain as well with Martin Corry's position under threat ahead of next year's Six Nations.
An obvious candidate to replace Corry would be Lawrence Dallaglio, his predecessor as the Test team's No. 8 and a former England captain.
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