Springboks settle old Italy score
South Africa set the record straight with a commanding 35-6 victory over Italy on Saturday.
The Springboks fell to a shock 20-18 loss against the same side a year ago, but gained revenge in Padova after overcoming a wobbly start to triumph in a five-try romp.
With the visitors having beaten France – the nation who pipped them to Rugby World Cup 2023 hosting rights – last time out, they ought to have had a spring in their step.
But Allister Coetzee’s men were slow out of the blocks and fell behind before Francois Louw’s try shifted the impetus and laid the platform for a convincing success.
Bongi Mbonambi marked his first start with a try, while Francois Venter, Steven Kitshoff and Franco Mostert also got in on the act.
#ITAvRSA [6-28] Un po’ di immagini del secondo tempo pic.twitter.com/FK50PHuoNq
— Italrugby (@Federugby) November 25, 2017
The hosts, beaten by Argentina in their previous outing, looked strong initially and Carlo Canna kicked them into an early three-point lead.
Having been starved of possession for large parts of the opening exchanges, the Springboks made it count when they did get hands on the ball.
A concerted spell of pressure set up Louw for the opening try and Handre Pollard added the extras.
Italy kept at their task and cut the deficit when Canna again proved accurate from the tee, but their defence was found wanting when South Africa next pressed.
Coetzee’s side kicked for touch, resisting the urge to go for the three points, and from the consequent line-out they plundered another try as Mbonambi crossed following a rolling maul.
The contest was more or less settled before the break, with Venter touching down in the corner and Pollard extending the visitors’ lead to 15 points with the boot.
Italy’s misery only deepened after the interval, with Kitshoff’s converted try and Mostert’s first international score cementing South Africa’s dominance in an otherwise uneventful 40 minutes.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
97 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
2 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
2 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
97 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
3 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
97 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
97 Go to comments