'Big loss': Mzwandile Stick wary of depleted Italy despite two missing stars

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick insists that the Springboks will not be taking a injury depleted Italy lightly when they clash in the Nations Championship at the Allianz Stadium, Turin on Saturday.

Italy will be without Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello for the game, a considerable blow for the Azzurri.

“For us, the start is very important,” said Stick. “We’re competing against the northern hemisphere, but there’s also an excitement in the way the competition is structured now, and everyone wants to be in the final.

“There’s a lot to play for against the northern hemisphere teams, and on the other side we’re still competing with New Zealand to finish on top (of the southern hemisphere table), so the structure brings a lot of excitement and the guys are engaged.”

Stick added: “Playing Italy away in Turin, where we played last year, the crowd is crazy when it comes to energy. It’s always tough to play them at home, so we must make sure we’re at our best.

“To give ourselves a chance of playing in the final, we have to start this tour well, so we’ll give it everything and try to make our people back home proud.”

Stick said that Italy were still a dangrerous outfit despite missing world-class centre partnership.

“Injuries are part of the game – guys like Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello not being available is a big loss for them, but they still have a quality side,” said Stick.

“Ange Capuozzo is world class, and probably one of the best outside backs in the world, and if you give him space and time, he’ll punish you. We’ve played against him many times and we understand his threats.

“But that said, we also have our strengths as a team, and we have to make sure we focus on our systems and put those in place.

“They’ll be motivated playing at home, and even with the players they’ve lost, they still have world-class players in their backline, with guys like Monty Ioane on the wing and Paolo Garbisi at No 10, so it’s going to be a tough game.”