Worcester and Boland wing Steve Hoffman came into the Springbok team at Kingsmead, Durban after South Africa had lost the second Test 14-18 against John Solomon’s Wallaby team at Newlands in 1953.

The strong runner was one of six changes, replacing left wing Chum Ochse.

Others to lose their places were Buks Marais (right wing), centre Tjol Lategan, who was injured, Ian Kirkpatrick at flyhalf, Chris Koch (prop) and Ernst Dinkelmann at lock.

Introduced along with Hoffman were Jaap Bekker’s brother, Dolf, on the right wing, Daantjie Rossouw at centre, Natie Rens at flyhalf, Harry Newton Walker at prop and Jan Pickard at lock. All were playing their debut Tests.

According to Hennie Muller in his book “Totsiens to Test Rugby” (Howard Timmins, 1953), “all six new boys pulled their full weight and acquitted themselves really well.”

Hoffman, he reported, “paid his way by one action alone, when he cut across the field to pull down Garth Jones on the opposite flank when in full cry for the line.”

It will be recalled that it was magnificent try by Jones that had led to the Australian victory at Newlands a fortnight before – South Africa’s first loss for 15 years - when Muller chased him all the way to the tryline in vain as he broke from Australian 10-yard line, a distance of about 60 yards, in the first minute of injury time.

South Africa won the third Test 18-8, but Hoffman was dropped for the vital fourth Test in Port Elizabeth, with Osche recalled.

Hoffman, who was 21 years old at the time, remarked to Muller that he was still young enough to regain his place, but he was, however, never selected again.

- Peter Martin