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August 7 down the years
Burke bows out in style
Scrum.com
Matt Burke of the Wallabies leaves the field after playing his last international match on Australian soil, Australia v New Zealand, Tri-Nations, Telstra Stadium, Sydney, August 7, 2004
Matt Burke leaves the pitch in Sydney after his final appearance on home soil © Getty Images
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2004
Australia drew level with New Zealand at the top of the Tri-Nations table with a 23-18 win over their great rivals in Sydney.

The pin-point goal-kicking of Dan Carter had helped the All Blacks into an early 12-3 lead but subsequent penalties from Matt Giteau (2) and Matt Burke (1) meant that the teams were tied at the interval.

Giteau and Carlos Spencer exchanged penalties at the start of the second half before Lote Tuqiri crossed in the 47th minute to put the Wallabies five points clear.

Andrew Mehrtens, on as a replacement for Spencer, reduced New Zealand's arrears with a penalty but Burke, in his last appearance in the green and gold on home soil, rather fittingly responded with a three-pointer of his own to clinch victory for Australia.

1971
Anti-apartheid demonstrators dropped a tear-gas bomb into the South Africa team bus as it travelled to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the third and final Test against the Wallabies.

Even though three Springbok players fell ill as a result of the attack, the tourists still managed to complete a series whitewash courtesy of an 18-6 win. South Africa's visit had been the subject of much convtroversy within Australia and Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen was even moved to declare a month-long state of emergency because of the local unrest.

1999
Christian Cullen, deployed in the unfamiliar role of centre, helped himself to a brace of tries as New Zealand beat South Africa 34-18 in Pretoria.

1937
Winger Dai Williams bagged a hat-trick as South Africa rout Wellington 29-0 in their final provincial fixture before the Test series against New Zealand.

1971
John Bevan crossed in the final minute of the Lions' 11-5 victory over North Auckland to equal Tony O'Reilly's record of most tries scored on a tour of New Zealand (17).

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