Springboks run riot in nine-try demolition of Italy

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks delivered a ruthless statement in their Nations Championship clash against Italy, powering to a 66-7 victory in a nine-try demolition of the Azzurri on Saturday.

Rassie Erasmus’ side dominated from the opening whistle, overwhelming the hosts with their physicality, pace and attacking firepower to underline their status as world champions.

South Africa had already built a commanding 45-0 lead by half-time, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx and Siya Kolisi among the try-scorers.

Italy managed a second-half response, but the Springboks remained firmly in control, adding to their tally through Wilco Louw, Paul de Villiers and Ethan Hooker to complete a comprehensive victory. Feinberg-Mngomezulu was outstanding, scoring a try and converting all nine South African tries.

The Springboks came out firing and attacked from kick-off, with a break by Jesse Kriel taking them close to the tryline just four minutes in.

They won a penalty and opted to take the points, much to the frustration of an animated Rassie Erasmus on the sidelines. However, the kick put South Africa on the board for the first time.

The Boks soon struck back with a try as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu broke clear, beat the Italian forwards on the outside and raced over in the corner. He added the conversion to give the visitors an early 10-0 lead.

Just six minutes later, Morne van den Berg crossed from close range to extend South Africa’s advantage, with frustration already evident among the Italian players.

The Boks were full of running, with Ethan Hooker going close before the referee brought play back for a South African penalty. Italy initially did well to stop the driving maul, but could not prevent the No.9 from sniping over from close range. The try was converted.

The Boks were scoring at will, with Malcolm Marx powering over for their third try inside the opening 20 minutes.

In the 22nd minute, Siya Kolisi scored the fourth try after a brilliant 50:22 by Feinberg-Mngomezulu. From the scrum, the maul bulldozed Italy, and the captain was on hand to score.

Finally, Italy had possession, but the third pass was charged down by Lood de Jager, a late change for Salmaan Moerat; Jasper Wiese followed and showed pace, popped to Damian Willemse, who got the five-pointer.

Half an hour into the match, Italy were trailing 38-0 and looked shell-shocked as they struggled to cope with the relentless South African onslaught that had scored more than a point a minute by this stage.

There was no respite for the hosts as Marx continued the deluge against 14 Italians after Muhamed Hasa got his marching orders. The hooker scored his second try 32 minutes into the game and a cricket score was on the cards.

It was strange to see South Africa’s first error, in the 40th minute when Feinberg-Mngomezulu knocked the ball after Italy kicked it down his throat.

In the first half, South Africa enjoyed 62% territory and 64% possession.

Would Italy resolve to play for pride in the second half or would there be a fightback from them?

They started well with a powerful scrum in the opening of the second 40 and that would have given them a huge boost.

That put them on the fringe of the Boks’ 22; however, their kick to the corner wasn’t out and was caught by Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Errors were creeping into the Springboks’ armour somewhat, and immediately Erasmus brought on his Bomb Squad.

The Boks briefly lost some of their mojo, but it did not last long. Jesse Kriel broke through, Van den Berg recycled possession, and Wilco Louw, on the receiving end, powered over for South Africa’s seventh try. The conversion took their tally to 52.

By the 60th minute, the game had unravelled and became very loose, with individual errors halting momentum.

Finally, there was cause for celebration. The move started from a beautiful inside ball off the lineout, and Federico Ruzza rounded off in the corner.

Italy showed no intention of sitting back despite the mountain they had to climb, as they looked to get back into the contest. However, the Springboks won their first scrum penalty of the match, kicked for touch and surged into Italian territory for the lineout.

The Boks set up a maul on the 5m, and the forwards rumbled over the line, and it’s Paul de Villiers’ turn to dot down.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu was a sharp shooter, not missing any of the kicks.

With seconds left on the clock, the Boks were five metres out from the tryline once more, looking to end with another try.

And they did exactly that as Ethan Hooker got over with ease, walking across to finish off a demolition of the Azzurri by 64-7

Player of the Match: Our nod goes to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who injected the grit and determination from the first minute, scoring a try and with a 100% kicking record, converting all nine tries.

The scorers:

For Italy:
Tries: Ruzza
Cons: Garbisi

For South Africa:
Tries: Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Van den Berg, Marx 2, Kolisi, Willemse, Louw, De Villiers, Hooker
Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9
Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Yellow card: Muhamed Hasa (Italy, 30’ – cynical pass interference)

Teams:

Italy: 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Paolo Odogwu, 12 Leonardo Marin, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Samuele Locatelli, 6 Alessandro Ortombina, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera (captain), 1 Muhamed Hasa.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Ion Neculai, 19 Enoch Opoku Gyamfi, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Tommaso Allan.

South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)