SA Schools A win
South Africa Schools A played in yellow jerseys with blue flares.
It was not a splendid match. There was too little fluidity in the game, especially from the South Africans who had all the possession they could have wanted but were ponderous. A lot of the problem started with slow delivery from the backs. Then too their kicking out of hand was pointless and poor. The liberal use of substitutions by both sides in the second half did not make for flow in the game.
Italy were quicker when they had a chance to run with the ball but they lost half their line-outs and two of their scrums. In the first half the penalties were five-two against them.
Into the breeze in the second half, they were actually better – far better at mauling than the South Africans and winning more possession from penalties (8-3) and much improved line-outs and scrums. The line-outs improved as they used flank Michael De Marco of Grey PE who had captained Eastern Province at the Craven Week and was a stalwart for Italy in this match.
South Africa's first four scores were penalties by Bader Pretorius. They were up 3-0 when the burly Italian centre Andrea Bronzini intercepted long, laboured passing by the South African backs and ran some 42 metres straight to the posts. Flyhalf Roberto Dal Zilio converted. 7-3 to Italy after 18 minutes.
After 37 minutes Pretorius's metronomic boot had made it 12-7.
Italy had some good opportunities. South Africa kicked, Gabriele Leveratto counter attacked and the next thing Italy were bashing on close attack. A penalty gave them an attacking line-out. They mauled and bashed and lock Giordano Baldino stretched out for the try. 14-12 to Italy after 44 minutes.
A minute later South Africa A were back in the lead as Ryan Muller, in a centre position, darted through four tackles for a try under the posts. Pretorius converted and South Africa led 19-14 after 45 minutes.
Italy had a long period of attack, bashing away at the South African goal-line but unable to score.
South Africa then used a ]line-out to do some bashing of its own but it was a clean break by centre Abner van Reenen that got them right to the line where Zain Davids picked up behind the tackle, threw a theatrical dummy and dived over. Substitute Eddie Fouché converted after 60 minutes and just before the end Fouché goaled a penalty from the half-way line.
Scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries Muller, Davids
Cons: Pretorius, Fouché
Pens: Muller 4, Fouché
For Italy:
Tries: Bronzini, Baldino.
Cons: Dal Zilio
Teams
Italy: 15 Gabriele Leveratto, 14 Yuma Santo, 13 Andrea Bronzini, 12 Davide Niccolò Mori, 11 Andrea Papa, 10 Roberto Dal Zilio, 9 Pietro Fontana, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Alessandro Mordacci (captain), 6 Michael De Marco, 5 Giordano Baldino, 4 Daniel Orso, 3 Damiano Borean, 2 Massimo Ceciliani, 1 Daniele Rimpelli
Replacememts: 16 Giacomo Braggie', 17 Alberto Rollero, 18 Dante Gravilita, 19 Jacopo Morona, 20 Duccio Cosi, 21 Andrea Martani, 22 Giovanni Lucchin, 23 Francesco Cozzi, 24 Aldo Incarbone, 25 Erik Dho, 26 Leandro Pagliarini
SA Schools A: 15 Earll Dourie, 14 Ryan Muller, 13 Abner van Reenen, 12 Cyprian Nkomo, 11 Mujaahid van der Hoven, 10 Bader Pretorius, 9 Matthew Dahl, 8 Khanya Ncusane, 7 Phillip Krause, 6 Zain Davids, 5 Hendré Stassen (captain), 4 PJ Steenkamp, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 André Lategan, 1 Abram Venter
Replacements: 16 Christopher Klopper, 17 Marnus van der Merwe, 18 Mashao Mukhari, 19 Kamva Dilima, 20 Kwanda Dimaza, 21 Jason Olivier, 22 Eddie Fouché, 23 Tyreeq February, 24 Cornel Smit, 25 Riaan van Rensburg, 26 Reinhard Nothnagel
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Emanuele Tom (Italy), Jabian Jeftha (South Africa)
Television match official: Jason Jaftha (South Africa)
