The rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks was suspended for more than 10 years due to political issues. But in 1992, with political change sweeping South Africa, sporting relations between the nations resumed. Steve Hepburn looks at the first test between the two countries after more than a decade apart.
When the All Blacks first landed in South Africa, it was like the second coming.
Jamie Joseph, who was in his first year as an All Black, remembers they were treated like kings.
Everywhere they went, they did not want for a thing.
"They treated us very, very well. Never had to struggle for anything, really," Joseph said.
The All Blacks had been on a tour of Australia, where they had been beaten narrowly by the Wallabies in a thrilling three-test series.
This was the amateur touring days, so it was decided four games would be played against South Africa provincial opposition before the test at Ellis Park.
Back home, there was some acrimony over television coverage. TV3 showed games in areas which were not covered by a young Sky Television network at the time.
The All Blacks won their four games - against Natal, Orange Free State, Central Unions and Junior South Africa - and looked odds-on to win the test.
In front of 72,000 fans in Johannesburg, the match got off to a chilly start when the home fans sang the country's old national anthem during a minute's silence.
That went down like a lead balloon with many of the politicians sitting in the stands and just charged an already intense atmosphere up another notch.
The game started and it soon became obvious the home team was rusty, suffering from a lack of international play.
Joseph remembers the huge crowd and the intense pride in the home side's game.
"Ellis Park was absolutely chocker. It was the first time we had been there for a long while and they were very charged for the game.
"But Zinny got a try near the end of the first half and then JK got another one. We had played something like 16 games on that tour so we were getting pretty knackered."
Zinzan Brooke scored a try near the end of the first half, quickly taking a tap penalty when the Springboks assumed Grant Fox would kick for goal.
Further tries from John Kirwan and John Timu put the All Blacks up by 17 points, with less than 10 minutes left.
But they were tiring, at the end of the tour and playing at altitude.
Centre Pieter Muller scored for the home side and right at the death, midfield partner Danie Gerber scored his second try.
The All Blacks had chalked up a 27-24 victory to end their lengthy tour on a high.
The All Blacks returned to domestic rugby while the Springboks played the Wallabies a couple of weeks later and were soundly beaten 26-3.
