Japan came into the game as 43 point underdogs, and were not given any chance of victory by fans and pundits alike, but pulled out one of the all-time great performances to beat the Springboks.
Here are some other upsets with rival Japan's superb triumph.
Wales 3 All Blacks 0 (1905)
The All Blacks were away on one of their longest - and most-successful - tours ever. Away from home for almost five months, The Originals won 34 games out of their 35, with no opponent reaching double figures against them.
However, that one loss was to Wales, who then beat the All Blacks in 1935 and 1953, but haven't beaten them since.
Tonga 16 Australia 11 (1973)
The touring Tongans had been thumped in their first Test against Australia, but they turned the tide to overturn that result in the second game and record their greatest-ever result. Their 19-14 win over France at the 2011 Rugby World Cup is also worth a mention.
Jimmy Bowen makes the break which created the only try in Munster's 12-0 win over the All Blacks Photo / Michael Cowhey
In 1978, the All Blacks had another successful tour of the Northern Hemisphere, winning every game bar one. That loss came against Munster however, with the Kiwis going down 12-0 in one of the most famous club victories in rugby history. In beating the All Blacks, Munster managed to also do what Ireland have failed to do in their rugby. history.
Romania 15 France 0 (1980)
The mercurial French are always capable of being upset, but Romania provided one of the more stunning results in 1980 with their 15-0 win. Romania looked like they could be a competitive rugby nation for a period in the late 1970s, but now France have won their last 14 games against them, and have scored 55 or more points in their last four clashes.
Western Samoa 16 Wales 13 (1991)
World Cup debutants in 1991, Western Samoa made the rugby world take notice in their first game. They shocked Wales on their home turf at Cardiff Arms Park, ruining the Welsh World Cup chances in their opening encounter.
They followed it up with a 35-12 trouncing of Argentina and a tight 9-3 loss to Australia before being swept aside by Scotland in the quarterfinals.
