10 November 2026
The Springboks have begun their European tour with a resounding 66–7 victory over Italy in Turin. Despite scoring 10 tries and delivering a dominant performance, the world champions are refusing to buy into their own hype. The squad has immediately shifted focus to a grueling three-Match stretch concluding with the Nations Championship Finals Weekend.
Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu spearheaded the attack, contributing 26 individual points through a flawless 10-out-of-10 kicking display and a brilliant solo try. However, the 24-year-old playmaker emphasised that the team remains grounded and self-critical. The camp expects a significantly higher standard of execution as they prepare to face Europe's top rugby heavyweights.
“I think it’s a very special feeling to get to a change room after a game and not be 100% happy with the performance we put out there, although the scoreline looked good,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu said. “It’s a good confidence booster for the boys, but also a great reality check that we know we’re not near where we need to be.”
The back-to-back nature of the November Test window gives the South Africans a swift opportunity to refine their game plan. The squad believes the groundwork laid in Italy will pay dividends over the coming weeks. Additional preparation time is expected to solidify combinations in the backline.
“The nice thing with these back-to-back fixtures is your preparation from week to week that all accumulates by the time you need it most,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu explained. “So next week (Friday) we’ll be going in with two weeks of preparation, which is going to help us. I think we laid a good foundation.”
The internal assessment reflects the high standards driving this Springbok era. With battles against France and Ireland looming, followed by the Nations Championship Finals Weekend, there is no room for complacency. Facing France at the Stade de France on Friday night will provide an immediate gauge of the team's progress.
“I think we did very well in the beginning to stick to our structures,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu concluded. “It was far from a perfect performance from us. We got a lot to work on for the next three big fixtures, but to tick a box at a very passionate and packed stadium was great for the boys.”