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Player comparisons: South Africa stamp their ticket to the quarterfinals
South Africa stamped their way to a quarterfinal berth with a clutch 29 – 24 win over Italy in York.
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Putting on a show of their power game, the Springbok pack dominated Italy at scrum time and in the close exchanges, which ultimately proved the difference between the two sides.
Italy, conversely, looked dangerous when play opened up, punishing South Africa in the wide channels, which was almost enough to get them over the line.
Here is how the two sides fared in their positional head-to-heads.
Front Row: Advantage South Africa
‘Salads don’t win scrums’ harnessing their inner Ox Nche, the Springbok women utterly blitzed their Six Nations opponents at scrum time from wire to wire.
Operating in perfect unison, the trio of Sanelisiwe Charlie, Lindelwa Gwala and Babalwa Latsha laid down an early marker by driving through Italian scrum to such an extent that number eight Aseza Hele raced off the back unchallenged for the opening try.
Continuing their domination throughout the match, the Bok pack earned three penalties, with Charlie in particular giving Italian tighthead Sara Seye fits at every scrum.
When the replacements entered the fray, the domination continued, bringing bundles of power to proceedings early in the second half.
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Second Row: Advantage Italy
Ensuring that their side got the edge at line-out time, the pairing of Giordana Duca and Valeria Fedrighi won 11 line-outs between them.
Defensively, the pair got through a huge amount of work at the breakdown and completed an outrageous 43 tackles.
This physical showing was crucial in ensuring their side stayed in the fight despite their struggles at scrum time.
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Back Row: Advantage Italy
Standing tall as her side’s key carrier, blindside Francesca Sgorbini got her side back on level pegging with a well-worked try in the 46th minute.
Topping the carries chart, Sgorbini was constantly involved in the action as she roamed from touchline to touchline. When she wasn’t taking the ball into contact, the threat of her getting her hands on the ball as a decoy runner occupied the minds of the Bok defenders.
On the openside, Beatrice Veronese was at the coal face of a physical South Africa onslaught. At the breakdown, she pulled off an important turnover and managed to slow down several promising South African attacks. Departing the action in the 62nd minute, having made 15 tackles, Veronese more than played her part in keeping her side in the fight when they were losing the physical exchanges.
Completing the trio’s impact was number eight, Elisa Giordano, who was tasked with anchoring a scrum that was backpedalling at every scrum. Ensuring that her side got away from the scrum cleanly, Giordano remained composed and carried early from the back. At line-out time, the Valsugana backrow was a consistent option with five takes.
On the other side of the action, Aseza Hele put in a monstrous 60-minute shift before being forced off with a knock. Making 37 meters from 11 carries with the opening try and 10 tackles was a really good return for the industrious number eight.
Halfbacks: Advantage South Africa
Starting the match well, Unam Tose had a busy half with 41 passes. Guiding her side around the park, Tose understood her assignment and routinely got the ball in the hands of her powerful forwards.
Shifting tack at half-time, South moved star playmaker Nadine Roos from fullback to scrumhalf and instantly looked more fluid.
Picking her passes beautifully, Roos kept things tight with quick one-off balls that had her forwards rampaging forward. Ripping out 52 passes and keeping the Italian defenders on their heels with her running game, Roos was pivotal in creating fractures in the other resilient blue Italian defence.
Saving her side’s blushes in the 79th minute, Roos raced back just ahead of the Italian attackers to touch the ball down and essentially kill off the game.
At ten, Libbie Janse van Rensburg pulled the strings with aplomb for her side. Taking the ball to the line frequently, Janse van Rensburg made 57 meters with a lovely line break. Her passing game was on point, and her ability to slip an offload and keep the ball alive opened space for her outside backs.
Earning a well-deserved player of the match award was just reward for Janse van Rensburg.
Centres: Draw
One try each, the Italian centres did everything in their power to get their side over the line.
Defensively, the pair held the Italian defensive line in place for the bulk of the contest and beat defenders with their limited opportunities.
Yet, with a wider lens, there is no doubt that the South African centres had a serious impact of their own. Combining for 80 meters made, the starting combination of Chumisa Qawe and Zintle Mpupha had a strong first half.
Defensively, Qawe in particular was rock solid through the opening forty, making 10 tackles before departing at halftime.
Replacing Qawe for the second forty, Aphiwe Ngwevu was at times a handful for the Italian defence and linked well with Janse van Rensburg as a second distributor.
Back Three: Advantage South Africa
Both back threes had their moments of magic in what was an intriguing subplot throughout the match. Such was the tight nature of this battle within the war that splitting the two combinations was a major challenge.
Kicking things off with the South African back three of Ayanda Malingo, Bryhandre Dolf and Nadine Roose were totemic.
Stealing the show was Malingo, who skinned the Italian defence on the outside on several occasions. Topping the meters made chart with a whopping 110 from just 7 carries with 3 defenders beaten shows just how effective she was every time the ball came her way.
On the other wing Dolf was a workhorse with her pursuit of Italian attackers and made a few incisive breaks that got her side rolling. Nailing just two of her five conversions is a clear work on but on the whole her work rate brings a nice balance to the Bok back three.
Shifting from fullback to scrumhalf, Nadine Roos once again proved why she is one of the best players at this year’s World Cup.
For Italy, the combined 176 meters made by their starting back three kept them firmly in contention despite their pack’s struggles at scrum time.
Front and centre was Aura Muzzo, who was seemingly everywhere and a constant threat with the ball in hand. Closing her account with 86 meters made, 2 line breaks and 5 defenders beaten was a superb showing. Equally dangerous was fullback Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, who too had the South African defenders clutching at ghosts.
Unfortunately for the Six Nations side, their inability to handle the physicality of the South African power game undid their exceptional work in the wide channels.
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