South Africa wrapped up their Tri-Nations preparations with a comfortable 26-0 win against Italy at Newlands on Saturday.
The ‘Boks scored four tries, while at the same time keeping the visitors pointless. It was the third win in a row for new coach Peter de Villiers, who led the team to a 2-0 series win over Wales coming into this clash.
“The Italians were very physical in the forwards and we stood up to them well,” Bok captain Victor Matfield said.
“The scrums and lineouts went well and we now have a good platform to build on for the Tri-Nations. It’s going to be a tough two weeks before our first game in New Zealand,” he said.
The ‘Boks, despite showing six changes from the side that beat Wales, made light work of the injury-hit Italians, even if the world champions managed to score just two tries in the first period.
They dominated at scrum and lineout time and also created more try-scoring chances than their Six Nations opponents. And considering heavy rain fell throughout much of the encounter, the ‘Boks showed a willingness to play an expansive, running game.
The Boks, who enjoyed truck-loads of possession, scored their first try as early as the sixth minute after winger Bryan Habana launched a counter-attack from deep in the ‘Boks’ own half.
When Habana was stopped just over the half-way line, young flyhalf Frans Steyn kicked the ball behind the advancing Italian defenders, dashed through the gap, picked up the ball and dived over the line. It was wonderful individual skill from the 21-year-old who was playing in place of Butch James.
Another player who got a rare start, hooker Bismarck du Plessis scored his team’s second and third tries a few minutes either side of the interval.
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