Composed 14-player Boks survive Azzurri scare
MATCH REPORT: A Springbok team playing with 14 players for 68 minutes showed great class and composure to defeat Italy by 32-14 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
The Springboks were dealt an early blow with a permanent red card to Franco Mostert in the 12th minute for a dangerous tackle to the head of Paolo Garbisi.
The World Champions played with 13 players at one stage when Marco van Staden was sent to the sin-bin in the 51st minute for a cynical breakdown foul, with the result in the balance.
South Africa started on a positive note with players such as Damian Willemse and Canan Moodie showing their intent from the outset.
Italy, however, didn’t make life easy for the Boks.
The Azzurri were creative in their attack and kicking game, making the Boks scramble defensively on a few occasions.
They also gave the Boks a hard time in the scrum, forcing the visitors to make early front row changes within the opening quarter.
Despite bossing the territory and possession in the first 20 minutes, Italy failed to convert it into points with Garbisi missing two kicks at goal.
Italy also made life tough for the Boks at the breakdown and outplayed South Africa in the aerial game.
It is a remarkable result from the Boks, considering the selection make-up and the on-field adversity they faced.
The Boks’ class shone through once more, stamping their credentials as the best team in the world.
*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!
Handre Pollard opened the scoring with a drop goal in the 32nd minute to break the deadlock, but it was disallowed due to obstruction by the Boks.
Pollard slotted the points a minute later from the tee as a penalty advantage for offside was played prior.
The Bok scrum was found wanting on a couple of occasions, and it got them into trouble when Garbisi levelled matters with a penalty in the 37th minute.
Italy conceded a free kick at the scrum five metres from their line and the Boks punished them to score the first try on the stroke of half-time through Marco van Staden, converted by Pollard to take a seven-point lead into the break.
The article continues below…
Italy closed the gap to one point with two Garbisi penalties in the 42nd and 52nd minutes, respectively.
Pollard grabbed the three points back two minutes later with a penalty of his own.
Italy went a player down in the 56th minute when Lorenzo Cannonne made contact with the head of Kwagga Smith.
The Boks declined a gift three points and opted for the scrum.
The decision paid off as Morne van den Berg sniped to score next to the posts in the 60th minute, which Pollard converted.
Italy struck back through a brilliant line run by Ange Cupuozzo to get the Azzurri’s first try with 15 minutes to play.
Grant Williams opened the breathing space for the Boks with a 71st-minute try sparked by Moodie, which Manie Libbok converted.
Ethan Hooker sealed the deal with a try in the 79th minute, which came off a crossfield kick by Libbok.
Player of the match: Our award goes to scrumhalf Morne van den Berg. The nuggety No.9 controlled the match well in difficult conditions behind a pack that struggled at times. He also made the second most dominant tackles (2)
Scorers
For Italy:
Try: Capuozzo
Pens: Garbisi 3
For South Africa:
Tries: Van Staden, Van den Berg, Williams, Hooker
Cons: Pollard 2, Libbok
Pens: Pollard 2
Red card: Franco Mostert (South Africa, 12′ – Dangerous play: Direct head contact in the tackle)
Yellow card: Marco van Staden (South Africa, 51′ – Cynical foul: Illegally slowing the ball down in the red zone), Lorenzo Cannone (Italy, 56′ – Dangerous play: Head contact in the tackle)
Teams
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (captain), 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.
South Africa: 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 (captain), 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 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Jérémy Rozier (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
