Lessons learned from an unconvincing first Test win against Italy in July were used to great effect by the Springboks in the second.
After a 54-7 rout of the Barbarians in a non-cap game in Cape Town, the Boks’ opening Test of the year against Italy at Loftus Versfeld was a classic game of two halves.
The Boks tore into the contest early, racing to a 28-3 half-time lead built on sharp execution and front-foot power. Jesse Kriel struck first, Morné van den Berg crossed twice and Kurt-Lee Arendse added another as the Boks overwhelmed the Azzurri.
But the second half told a different story. Italy refused to fade, finding momentum and cutting into the lead with a spirited fightback. While Vincent Koch and Marco van Staden added tries to keep the scoreboard ticking, the 42-24 final score flattered neither side entirely. A win secured, but with clear areas for the world champions to tighten up.
Seven days later in Gqeberha, those lessons were applied emphatically.
The second Test at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was over as a contest long before the final whistle, even after Jasper Wiese’s 22nd-minute red card left the Boks with 14 men for most of the match. Instead of retreating, South Africa accelerated.
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Grant Williams opened the scoring, Edwill van der Merwe struck twice, and Canan Moodie capped a dominant first half for a 24-0 lead. After the break, Malcolm Marx powered over from a maul, Makazole Mapimpi finished clinically, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels completed the rout at the death.
Italy were shut out completely – the first time in 26 years – as the Springboks sealed a 2-0 series win, celebrated Willie le Roux’s 100th Test, and sent a clear warning ahead of the Castle Rugby Championship.
The Boks got one more hit-out ahead of the southern hemisphere showpiece against a Georgia side determined not to let the Boks bulldoze over them.
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While the visitors gave a good account of themselves, the 55-10 scoreline was proof that the gulf between the sides was simply too big.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
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