Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, who will increase his Test tally to 101 caps, singled out the breakdowns as one of the main battles going into the clash against Italy on Saturday at 14:40 (SA Time).
“It’s been one of the big areas we looked at this week, just as we did when we played against them in South Africa,” said Kolisi.
“We struggled in the first match against them back home, and that was one of the main reasons we had to work so hard to win that match.
“We know how good they are there, so we’ve worked hard this week to ensure we look after the ball properly.”
“The pack will be important this weekend. We know what we have to do, and we have to make sure we are up for it.”
Kolisi also shot down suggestions that the forwards were unfamiliar with one another, given the new-look pack announced by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Thursday, saying: “We’ve done the work on the field during the week, and that’s where we get to know one another."
"The coaches have been crucial in that regard, and that’s where we get our confidence. The senior guys obviously need to lead by example, but we feel good as a group in general.”