Azzurri v Boks: The key fact pundits are overlooking
INSIGHTS: The pundits are making South Africa outright favourites when they travel to Torino (Turin in English) to face off against Italy for the third time this year.
It is with good reason, but there are some riders.
The Azzurri may have lost 17 of their 18 encounters with the Springboks, but they’ll be buoyed by having taken the scalp of Australia a week ago.
Italy have become a very good side, capable of getting wins over some of the bigger sides.
It will also be a much-changed Bok team, with 12 alterations from last week’s demolition of France.
The Italians have only made one change to the starting line-up that got the job done against the Wallabies last week, with Marco Riccioni starting at tighthead and Simone Ferrari dropping to the timber.
Also, as Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus pointed out, in Argentine Gonzalo Quesada, they have a perspicacious mentor.
Erasmus’ take on his counterpart is based on Quesada’s success in France, where he coached Stade Français to the Top 14 title.
And then there is the Azzurri’s improved Six Nations form under the accomplished Argentine.
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“Italy’s victory against Australia [last week] will also boost their confidence immensely,” Erasmus told the media this week.
“We have a lot of respect for them, and we’ll have to give everything to get the result we want on the weekend.
“They’ve made huge strides in the last few years, and last week’s result shows what they are capable of when they are at their best, so we are not taking them lightly.”
The Azzurri will also have an ardent crowd behind them in Torino.
Erasmus also suggested the scorelines in the July encounters (42-24 and 45-0 victories for the Boks) are not a true reflection of how tough those games were.
However, the one key fact that most pundits overlook is that Azzurri have more Test caps than the Boks, with settled combinations.
Experience and cohesion are where the Azzurri will have the edge.
The centre pairing of Juan Ignacio Brex (47 caps) and Tommaso Menoncello (32 caps) will be up against an untested Bok combo of Canan Moodie (20 caps) and Ethan Hooker (six caps).
Italy have other tricks up its sleeve.
Flyhalf Paolo Garbisi (48 caps) and fullback Ange Capuozzo (29 caps) are two of the most underrated players on the international circuit.
“They have several gamebreakers,” Erasmus said this week.
He felt it is the best Italian team to take to the field in the past two years.
Unlike July, when some of their key players were missing and the Boks fielded a very experienced squad, Saturday’s Italian team will not lack for moxie.
The Azzurri starting XV has 484 caps (average of 32 caps per player), and there are another 268 caps on the bench.
The Boks’ starting XV has only 430 caps (average of 29), and there are 240 on the bench.
“With few younger players in the [Bok] team, away from home, against Italy, this is a 50-50 game,” Erasmus said about a much-improved Azzurri collection.
Erasmus does have ‘insurance’ on the bench with Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw set to reunite with Johan Grobbelaar as part of a settled Bulls front row.
Locks RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje will bring more stability when called upon.
Strap yourself in. This could be a wild ride!
@rugby365com
* Image credit: Daniele Badolato, Getty Images
