The Springboks produced a powerful all-round display to beat Italy 66-7 in Turin, maintaining their unbeaten run in the Nations Championship to move up to a full house of 20 points from four successive victories.
The world champions were out of sight by half-time after crossing for six converted tries and a penalty goal to take a commanding 45-0 lead into the break. They added a further three tries in the second half while conceding only once to complete another emphatic performance ahead of next weekend’s clash against France.
South Africa dominated from the outset, suffocating the hosts with their powerful forward play, astute tactical kicking and clinical finishing. The Boks finished with nine converted tries and a penalty goal, while Italy’s only reward was a converted try shortly after the hour mark.
The Springboks’ forward dominance was a key feature of the opening half, with their formidable driving maul providing the platform for tries by Siya Kolisi and two by Malcolm Marx, the reigning World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was influential throughout as he directed the Bok attack with authority and precision. He scored the team’s first try and added six conversions and a penalty goal in the first half, while Morne van den Berg and Damian Willemse also crossed the whitewash in an impressive attacking display.
Backed by a passionate home crowd, the Azzurri struggled to gain meaningful territory or possession. On the few occasions they threatened, they were met by a resolute Springbok defensive effort that ensured the hosts remained scoreless in the opening period.
The Springboks continued where they left off after the break, with Wilco Louw powering over from close range through a determined leg drive to score South Africa’s first try of the second half and stretch their lead to 52-0.
Italy eventually got on the scoreboard in the 61st minute when Federico Ruzza finished a well-worked set-piece move, with Tommaso Allan adding the conversion to reduce the deficit to 52-7.
The visitors responded by returning to one of their most effective weapons. In the 72nd minute, Paul de Villiers crossed for South Africa’s third maul try of the match, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu converting to make it 59-7.
There was still time for one final flourish as Ethan Hooker capped another impressive performance by finishing off a set-piece move on full-time to score the Springboks’ ninth and final try, taking the score to 66-7.
Van den Berg was named the official Player of the Match after an accomplished performance behind a dominant pack, combining accurate kicking with crisp service and sound game management, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu was flawless off the tee and contributed 26 points with his try, nine conversions, and one penalty goal.
Italy 7 (0) [Try: Federico Ruzza; Conversion: Tommaso Allan] Springboks 66 (45) [Tries: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx (2), Siya Kolisi, Damian Willemse, Wilco Louw, Paul de Villiers, Ethan Hooker; Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (9). Penalty goal: Feinberg-Mngomezulu]
Italy: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Alessandro Ortombina, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera (captain), 1 Muhamed Hasa.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Tommaso Allan.
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
Source: super.rugby
