Eskom charged up for Italy Test

by | Nov 11, 2025 | African Golf News

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Marco van Staden says the Springboks’ growing intensity and collective preparation have become key strengths as they build toward Saturday’s Test against Italy in Turin.

Van Staden, who hasn’t yet featured on tour so far, believes the side’s sharp preparation and squad-wide effort have played a major role in their recent performances.

“It was a great game over the weekend [against France], the boys showed good intensity and I believe what we did in the week leading up to the Test and how we prepared, played a big role in that,” Van Staden said.

“We all buy in, we’re one team – the guys who play and those who don’t – we all prepare together and as best we can, help prepare each other. So ja, that pushes us and that high intensity is definitely an asset for us.”

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Looking ahead to the clash in Turin, Van Staden warned that Italy will be a tough prospect on home soil.

“They’re a team with lots of passion and they bring their own intensity to the field and I think at home, that’ll be even more evident and with their home crowd behind them,” he said.

“I think we’ve seen in the URC, the Italian teams tend to do much better at home. I think playing at home for them is a massive boost and affects the way they arrive for the match.”

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The Boks beat an understrength Azzurri twice in July – 42-24 in Pretoria and 45-0 in Port Elizabeth.

“They did very well against us in South Africa earlier this year,” said Van Staden. “They put us under pressure in some areas, so we’re expecting them to come out with lots of passion and intensity.”

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Van Staden also couldn’t resist a tongue-in-cheek nod to teammate AndrĂ© Esterhuizen’s recent try-scoring form, joking that the hard-running centre is quickly earning his place among the forwards.

“I think Andre is now a genuine loose forward. Against Japan he scored with the forwards around the corner and now he scored off a maul. We now just have to get his ears ugly, then he’ll be a proper forward!”

Photo: Johan Orton/Gallo Images

The post Eskom charged up for Italy Test appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.