As expected after the disappointing series loss to the All Blacks in New Zealand, there were a number of changes to the South African squad for their next Test against France at Newlands in 1958.

One of the six new caps introduced was Johan Steenekamp, the Transvaal lock, who had a good reputation in the Currie Cup and he replaced Salty du Rand from the team that lost the fourth Test 5-11 against New Zealand in Auckland 21 long months before.

The Newlands Test was only the third time the two countries had met in 45 years and it was the first occasion on home soil. Both previous Tests had been easily won, and a 3-3 draw against a team that had not done particularly well on the tour thus far – they had lost to a Combined North and West Transvaal and had drawn with a Combined Orange Free State-Griquas-SWA team - was too much for the South Africa selectors who wielded the axe and made no less than nine changes for the second Test at Johannesburg which was lost 5-9.

France thus became the first country to lower South Africa's colours in a home series since 1896.

Steenekamp was one of those who lost his place in the team. He was replaced by Jan Pickard, who many critics thought should have been captaining South Africa, and with Avril Malan making great strides and Johan Claassen an established lock, he was unable to regain a place in the Test team.

- Peter Martin