Ghosts of 2016 will not haunt Boks

SPOTLIGHT: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada have the same agenda when their teams face each other over the next two weeks.

It is a series of opportunities for young and old as they get their planning underway for the next World Cup in Australia in 2027.

Both teams consist of a blend of older hands combined with youngsters hoping to break into the international scene.

Italy’s squad has a much more youthful look following their Six Nations campaign, with three youngsters who made their debuts last weekend against Namibia: hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, prop Muhamed Hasa and fullback Mirko Belloni.

Belloni is the only one (along with Giulio Bertaccini) who did not play abroad or for Benetton Treviso and Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship last season.

The fullback was part of Rovigo’s Italian Serie A Elite winning team and was voted Player of the Tournament.

Italy has only beaten the Springboks once since the two nations first locked horns in 1995.

On November 19, 2016, the Azzuri earned a maiden victory over the Springboks in the 13th meeting between the teams with a tense win in Florence.

Interestingly enough, a host of the current Springboks featured in that loss. Centre Damian de Allende, Lood de Jager, Vincent Koch, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Wille le Roux all tasted defeat that day. Bath coach Johann van Graan was one of the assistant coaches.

The Azzurri had lost all 12 of their previous encounters with the Boks, all by 16 points or more.

Tries from Bryan Habana and De Allende gave South Africa a 12-10 half-time lead, but Italy, guided by Irish coach Conor O’Shea, fought back and Giovanbattista Venditti added to SA-born Dries van Schalwyk’s first-half try.

A Carlo Canna penalty with 15 minutes remaining gave the Azzurri the 20-18 triumph at Artemio Franchi Stadium, and their first home win in two years.

Defeat heaped more misery on the Allister Coetzee-coached Boks, who had come off their heaviest home loss to the All Blacks, a draw with the Barbarians, and been beaten by England – SA’s first defeat to the Roses for 10 years.

To be fair, this Italian side should not beat the current crop of Springboks on any day of the week.

When he announced his touring squad, Quesada said: “The management of the athletes on one side – and the desire to give opportunities to some young players – are the two fundamental aspects that we have taken into account in choosing the squad for the tour.

“There are players who have had very high minutes in the last two seasons: we have taken into account their recovery and how to best manage the group. This is also an important opportunity for some athletes to compete at this level, as well as a reward for the commitment shown during the season with their performances.

“The staff on the next tour will have the opportunity to work with a group made up of a mix of young and experienced athletes.

“Next season will be very important, the last before the World Cup. We aim to have a general idea of ​​who we can involve towards the World Cup 2027 and try to increase the depth of the squad we have available,” the coach stated.

Nine players, who started against Ireland in Italy’s last match on March 15, have been omitted from the squad.

This list consists of prop Simone Ferrari, hooker Gianmarci Lucchesi, locks Dino Lamb and Federico Ruzza, halfbacks Martin Page-Rolo and Paolo Garbisi, midfielder Juan Ignacio Brex, and winger Ange Capuzzo and full-back Tommaso Allan.

Former skipper Michele Lamaro, a round five sub at Stadio Olimpico, is also absent.