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WATCH | Springbok Colin Beck's controversial drop goal on 1981 NZ tour

WATCH former Springbok utility back Colin Beck's debatable match-levelling drop goal against the Maori All Blacks in 1981.

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Beck, 61, made the news on Monday when it was confirmed that he was one of the former Springboks who tested positive for the coronavirus after playing golf with his team-mates earlier this month.

READ | 3 of Danie Gerber's 1981 Springbok teammates test positive for coronavirus

In the tour match (WATCH below) against the New Zealand Maori, as the Kiwi outfit was called back then, Beck's last-gasp drop goal saw the Springboks sneak a 12-all draw in Napier.

However, there was some confusion as to whether outside centre Beck's drop kick had gone over.

The referee was Brian Duffy from Taranaki and the New Zealand Maori players can be seen protesting with the official, who blows his final whistle soon afterwards.

Beck, who represented Western Province, played three Tests for the Springboks in 1981 - two against the All Blacks and one against the USA.

When interviewed over the drop goal in 2010, Beck gave a diplomatic answer: "Look, it's a difficult call as to whether it went over. I don't think the ref was in a very good position and there was a bit of confusion," Beck said, as quoted by the Stuff.co.nz website.

"The ball went relatively high and I have a feeling it went directly over one post, which was very short, so the decision could have gone either way and the ref gave us the benefit of the doubt. Whether it went over or not, I really can't say, it was too long ago. But it's in the record books."

The All Blacks beat the Springboks 2-1 in the 1981 series but the tourists were unbeaten in all their other tour games.

- Compiled by Herman Mostert

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