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International

Rassie Erasmus' brutally honest admission about Italy clash

Jan De Koning

170 days ago

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 08: Rassie Erasmus, the South Africa head coach, looks on during the Autumn Nations Series 2025 match between France and South Africa at the Stade de France on November 08, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Changes were predicted and expected to the South African starting XV that will face Italy in Torino on Saturday.

However, the 11 alterations to the side that overpowered France last week caught most pundits by surprise.

Inspirational captain Siya Kolisi is one of the players backing up.

The other players who retained their places in the starting team are Boan Venter (prop), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing) and Damian Willemse (fullback).

Erasmus opted for the same bench except for Kwagga Smith (loose forward), who returns to the squad in place of Johan Grobbelaar, who was promoted to the starting lineup.

Erasmus had a perfectly logical explanation for fielding an almost entirely new team against the Azzurri.

“We have learnt our lessons from the past,” Erasmus said in his brutally frank response to the question.

“In the World Cup, when we beat France [29-28 in the quarter-final], we named the same team to play England [a week later] and we were very flat in that [semifinal] game.

“We had to grind out a win in that [England] game.”

Erasmus said he was not going make the same mistake after last week’s emotionally-charged 32-17 win over Les Bleus in Stade de France.

Fixture

Internationals

Italy

14 - 32

Full-time

South Africa

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“That game [against France] took a lot out of the players,” he said.

“We returned to our hotel at 1am the Sunday, by 4am we headed to the airport and arrived here in Turin late afternoon on the Sunday. Our rooms were not yet ready and we had to wait in the team room.”

He said he deliberately opted for players who have not played much yet.

“It is out of respect for Italy, rather than just rotation,” Erasmus said. “The bulk of the guys who will face Italy on Saturday played less than 40 minutes [on tour] or not at all.”

Fullback Damian Willemse and left wing Kurt-Lee Arendse are the two in Saturday’s starting XV with the highest match minutes on tour. Even captain Siya Kolisi only played the first half in Paris.

Loose forwards Marco van Staden and Ben-Jason Dixon will feature for the first time on tour.

“We can’t expect the older players, after last Saturday’s bruising encounter, to deliver the same quality performance a week later,”Erasmus added.

“The challenge is now for the younger players, with fewer caps, to tackle this great Italian team that beat Australia so easily last week.

“We will learn a lot about these players in what I expect to be a close game.”

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Comments

7 Comments

GrahamVF 169 days ago

Just like to point out there are seven World Cup winners in the starting line-up and four more on the bench. Italy will come at them like France did in the first half but as long as we’re not more than 8/10 points adrift at half time we’ll win.

Hard Boiled 169 days ago

I think the Springbok bench is going to make all the difference. Too much fire power in the subs which will undoubtedly be unmatched in what comes on the field later for the Italians. First half quite possibly will have a good few errors from the men in green with moments of brilliance due to the desire for these men to play again for the best team in the world and wanting to prove they can. Predict an energetic, bruising second half lead by the bench on to a clear daylight victory for the Boks

GB 169 days ago

I expect a very close match, hoping the Bok substitutes will come on and change the course of the match.

Hammer Head 169 days ago

I think the boks may blow them off the park by 40 mins.

Not because Italy are worse than they were earlier this year but because the boks would have done their homework in the one area of the game Italy is very good. The breakdown.

Nullify them at the breakdown. Plus set piece dominance - Italy could struggle.

Italy’s best chances are to up their game even more around the breakdowns - and I just can’t see that happening.

The bok pack will be hungry to avoid the mistakes of earlier in the year. So I see a statement approach around the breakdown from them. As Rassie has said - everyone wants to play Ireland next week…

Even if the Italians hang on - the boks should put on 15-20 on them by 80. If all cyclinders fire - more.

If they don’t I’ll eat my undies if England beat NZ too.

Utiku Old Boy 170 days ago

Good rationale by Rassie. Of course, it helps that his squad depth is so deep but it is recognition that players who have not had much time on the field, may not be such a big drop-off for those who have seen plenty of minutes. Italy are as strong as they have ever been.

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