It's common knowledge that no All Black has ever scored a hat-trick of Test tries against the Springboks, but on this day, in 1921, a South African achieved a remarkable feat in New Zealand.

The first Springbok Tour to New Zealand, in 1921, holds a special significance in the on-going rivalry between the two nations. During this tour new records were set for the generations to come.

One of the most remarkable was the record set by Natal winger W.C (Bill Zeller), Springbok #153, who was the first South African to score first a hat-trick of tries against a New Zealand team when he grabbed three against West Coast Buller on 27 July in the Springboks' victory of 33-3.

On 10 August 1921, he equalled this feat against Otago in the next victory of 11-3 to become the first South African to score a double hat-trick on New Zealand soil.

Yet this was not enough as Zeller scored a further four tries in the match against Auckland North a week-and-a-half later on 20 August, when the Springboks defeated the home side by 24-8.

This gave him the further accolade of being the first-ever Springbok to score four tries on New Zealand soil.