Another permanent red card to the Springboks could not stop the Springboks from securing a 32-14 win against Italy at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
A permanent red card to Franco Mostert following ten minutes of play put pressure on the already struggling Springbok scrum. The Springboks replaced the two props after twenty minutes of play, which unfortunately made no difference.
Handre Pollard converted a penalty, which was a smart decision as the Springboks’ forwards were tackled backwards by a disciplined Italian defence, following a quick tap by the Springboks.
With time running out, fly-half Paolo Garbisi converted his first penalty following two missed attempts to level the scores at 03-03.
With time up on the clock, Marco van Staden scored of the back of a maul, after the Springboks took a quick tap from a free kick. Pollard converted to secure the Springboks' 10-03 lead at the halftime break.
Paolo Garbisi converted an early penalty to cut the Springboks’ lead to 19-06.
Marco van Staden’s yellow card allowed Paolo Garbisi to convert his third penalty to cut the Springboks’ lead to one point with twenty-eight minutes still to play in the second half.
Handre Pollard’s reply was almost immediate with his second converted penalty to extend the Springboks’ lead to 13-09.
For the first time in the match, the Springboks decided on a scrum from a penalty, and Morne van den Berg sniped off the back of the scrum to score the Springboks' second try. Pollard converted to extend the Springboks’ lead to 20-09.
With fifteen minutes to play, fullback Ange Capuozzo took a brilliant pass on an angle to slip past several Springbok defenders to cut the Springboks’ lead to 20-14.
Seven minutes later, brilliant work by Canan Moodie, who offloaded to Grant Williams to score the Springboks' third try. Manie Libbok converted to extend the Springboks' lead to 27-14.
A great kick-pass by Manie Libbok was controlled by Ethan Hooker who scored his first try for the Springboks to secure a 32-14 win.
Teams:
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (c), 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Ross Vintcent, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti. Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 David Odiase, 22 Martin Page-Relo, 23 Tommaso Allan.
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter. Replacements: 16 Gerhard Steenekamp, 17 Wilco Louw, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Ange Capuozzo, 23 Manie Libbok.