Will Greenwood scored twice as England beat the Springboks on this day in 2002 © Getty Images

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2002
England rounded off their autumn in style with an emphatic 53-3 win over South Africa at Twickenham, completing a hat-trick of wins over the Tri-Nations. In a physical match, Springbok Jannes Labuschagne was sent off after just 23 minutes for a late shoulder charge on England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson. After leading 18-3 at half-time, England ran home five tries in the second half to inflict a record defeat on the tourists. Will Greenwood scored two tries to become the first England player to score twice in a Test against South Africa. England coach Clive Woodward paid tribute to his players who held their nerve against "brutal" opposition. "There was a lot going on out there, and our self-control was magnificent," he said. "All the key guys in the team kept their control when they could have lost it."

1901
South African great Bennie Osler was born Aliwal North. Fly-half Osler possessed a kicking game of suffocating accuracy, his commitment to putting pressure on the opponents' set-piece helping to define the successful Springbok sides of the 1920s and early 1930s. He died in 1960, aged 58, and was inducted in to the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007.

1963
On the day after US President John Kennedy was assassinated, the All Blacks scraped past Cardiff 6-5. Cardiff scored the only try of the day, but a drop goal and a penalty was enough to seal the victory at the Arms Park.

1972
Ray "Chico" Hopkins, perennial understudy to Gareth Edwards as scrum-half for Wales, switched codes and joined rugby league side Swinton for a reported fee of £8000.

1912
Brothers Freddie, Dick and John Luyt played in the South Africa Test side that beat Scotland 16-0 at Inverleith.

1940
Former England great Tom Voyce's select XV beat Wavell Wakefield's team 18-11 in a charity match in front of a 4000-strong crowd at Gloucester.

1957
In a side featuring a number of Italian internationals, Rugby Milano were defeated 27-6 by Blackheath, as they opened their short tour of England in difficult condition.