Italy will host the might of South Africa at Stadio Euganeo, Padua for the third game of the Springbok’s end of year tour. Join The Roar from 1:00am (AEDT) for live scores and commentary.
Simply, this Italian side has much to gain, with not much more to lose. Having played against the Springboks eleven times without a win, they will look to improve on their last meeting, where the Springboks scored five tries to Italy’s one.
Scrum Challenge: South Africa’s best tight head prop, 32 year old Jannie du Plessis is injured. He is going to be replaced by 25 year old Coenie Oosthuizen, who plays for Free State Cheetahs and will be joined by Cheetahs team mate and loose head prop Trevor Nyakane.
To put it kindly, the Cheetahs scrum this year needed ‘significant improvement’ and it is likely they would have watched last week’s epic scrum battle between Italy and Argentina with morbid concern. But behind the Springbok front row are two deadliest set piece operators; Eben Etzebeth and Victor Matfield.
Both Springboks are heavier and taller than the Italian locks – to label them as ‘Italian’ however is slightly inaccurate as one is from South Africa (Quintin Geldenhuys), the other is Australian born (Joshua Furno).
Taking notes from the Pumas: The Italians will probably try to emulate how the Pumas used the scrum and ruck to spoil the Springboks power game. On the other side of the ledger, the Springboks have probably learnt from early Pumas engagements, represented through varied attacking strategies and playmaker selection.
The Springboks have not used a replacement ‘B’ team to face the 14th rank Italians and is a clear indication they take the Italian pack seriously – both set piece and in the loose. The game will also feature a number of exciting players with some given an opportunity to perform and make their mark with World Cup selections looming.
In keeping with the modern tactic of fielding a playmaker at fullback Willie le Roux a short break and Johan Goosen will be running on as the starting fifteen.
Prodigy Goosen will look for the spaces the Springboks intend to create against the Italians. This includes some space behind the defence. Goosen, along with the halves, will do battle with some tricky Italian runners, including fullback Andrea Masi, Centre Michele Campagnaro and Kiw-born flyhalf Kelly Haimona.
The Italians are good individually with ball in hand but will need to link up with their support men to finish off. The Italians were held try less by the Pumas last week.
Today, they will need to harass, use the scrum early to break the Springbok momentum, otherwise, the bookies odds will come to reality.
Roy Mackintosh
Guest
Polly also made a difference and adds that extra bit when off loads connect and exploit the gap. The speed of the ball movement (CR) impressed me tonight and took the focus off our predicable pod drive where we lost the ball in the tackle (struas) V
RobC
Roar Guru
Good sweep Phipps.
RobC
Roar Guru
nah DC. Didnt miss much Bok scrum fightback was good
RobC
Roar Guru
As expected, Italy put up a spirit fight in defensive rucks - especially in the first half. SBs got into the Italian half well, but unable to finish off. A set piece scrap heap. Lineouts a mess on both sides Italy: - Scrum dominated at first, then dipped after couple of scrums - Defended their redzone v well - Played like Pumas v Argentina in TRC - The main attacker were the Captain Parissee, and fullback Masi Springboks: - Eightman push was v good. Props were dropping under pressure at first. But recovered v well - Lineout and maul was below par - When in the redzone, all SBs played 15man game. No depth, angles, slow recycle - Lambie, didnt organise the attack well enough, or at all. Should have orchestrated at least two tries from redzone Turning points: - Bok props, and scrum lifted around 30' - The bench came in 2nd half My MOTM: Cobus. One try assist, one try
Digby
Roar Guru
Slept through this one, looks like I didnt miss too much?
RobC
Roar Guru
MATCH STATS ITALY V SPRINGBOKS 0 Tries 3 0 from 0 Conversion goals 2 from 3 2 from 4 Penalty goals 1 from 1 50.0% Kick at goal success 75.0% 0 Dropped goals 0 Kick/pass/run 26 Kicks from hand 22 118 Passes 116 83 Runs 106 243 Metres run with ball 360 Attacking 44% (42%/46%) Possession (1H/2H) 56% (58%/54%) 38% (32%/46%) Territory (1H/2H) 62% (68%/54%) 1 Clean breaks 4 5 Defenders beaten 18 5 Offloads 4 64 from 66 (97.0%) Rucks won 85 from 90 (94.4%) 3 from 3 (100.0%) Mauls won 6 from 7 (85.7%) 17 Turnovers conceded 15 Defensive 130/18 Tackles made/missed 75/5 88.0% Tackling success rate 94.0% Set pieces 8 won, 0 lost (100.0%) Scrums on own feed 6 won, 2 lost (75.0%) 10 won, 5 lost (66.7%) Lineouts on own throw 10 won, 4 lost (71.4%) Discipline 9 (0) Penalties conceded (Freekicks) 11 (1) 0/0 Yellow/red cards 0/0
Roy Mackintosh
Guest
Agree about the camera work mate, found myself hogging the screen trying to see
Roy Mackintosh
Guest
That try from Willie - Polly - Habbana makes me believe the stigma of our kicking game should only be considered as another card in the deck and B-team scrum stood up well, while CR showed his class with Big Vick very agile tonight. Well done to Italy first half. Grinding first half with plenty of skew put ins. No complaints and glad Bizzie - Straus competition continues
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
And Bakkies announces his retirement from international rugby.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
agree with naas ;) . you have big guys who can fix most defenders and Boks backs often outnumber their opponents. Just need the ball to get there quick. When you see what Le Roux and Habana can do with half a chance. De Villiers - Serfontein tend to keep the ball a tad too long imo.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
As an aside I liked Boks scrum tonight. Did well, same with lineouts.
Naas Botha saying we have to learn to take contact out wide where there are less players
Nick Mallet saying French referees are the worst at not penalising home teams. He says if you watch rugby in France it is standard practice
Nick, I am listening to Nick Mallet and the other guys in studio, the breakdown is all they are talking about
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
For me it was fine biltong. had a game with English commentary and no mention. Just think that's an area which is much more contested in the NH. but yes, sh teams have to adapt when they play against NH sides especially with nh refs.
He is too injury prone, sadly
Harry Jones
Guest
What a pass from Pollard. Vision/calm
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Jordaan one day perhaps?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
How about P/R in the RC and Samoa in it too? ;)
He simply knows how to put runners into space. But we need to learn how to deal with these spoiling tactics at the breakdown