AUDIO: Azzurri ready to fire more shots at bumbling Boks
South African coach Rassie Erasmus’ frustration was palpable as his team gave an unconvincing performance in their season opener in Pretoria this past weekend.
However, perhaps the ‘critics’ did not give the Italians enough credit for making the Springboks look less than assured.
The 25-point (28-3) half-time lead looked a lot less convincing at the final whistle – a 18-point (42-24) win, after the Azzurri won the second half 21-14 (three tries to two).
Rookie Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, who made his Azzurri debut against Namibia and started against the Boks at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday, said they are not planning to change much in Port Elizabeth.
“We know what aspects of our game must still improve,” the 24-year-old hooker told @rugby365com.
Having conceded six tries in Pretoria, four of those in an underwhelming first half (gifting the Boks a 28-3 half-time lead), the tourists will be focusing on a more assured defensive effort at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this coming Saturday.
Asked about the step up from facing the brutal South African forwards in the United Rugby Championship and now on the Test area, the Zebre front row forward said there is not much difference and they are well accustomed to the physicality.
The big rider is that several players in the Bok pack do not play in the URC and bring a different challenge to the national team – players like the Japan-based collection of Jasper Wiese, Lood de Jager, Malcolm Marx and Franco Mostert.
* (LISTEN as Italian hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo promises South Africa another stern test in Port Elizabeth on Saturday,….)
“We may not have faced those players before,” Di Bartolomeo said, adding: “However, when you wear the [Bok] jersey, the passions and effort is bigger – you put in that extra effort for your country.”
Di Bartolomeo said they conceded a couple of ‘soft tries’ at Loftus and the Azzurri need to cut down of their error rate, which included 11 turnovers and two yellow cards.
“We must produce our most effective performance if we are to challenge South Africa as we did [in the second half] last week.”
The hooker admitted that the Boks will attempt to raise the bar from last week and get close to their best form.”
@king365ed
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