The Springboks will face Italy in the first official test of the season at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, heading into the game last weekend, backed by a 54-7 droving by the Barbarians at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Italy defeated the infamous Allister Coetzee Springboks in 2016, but it was the only victory over South Africa in 16 attempts. However, this is undoubtedly one of the strongest periods for Italian rugby.
In 2024, Azzurri won three wins against Tier One Nations – the joint tally in history that matched only in 1997. Additionally, 2024 was the first year in which the 1997 calendar year defeated Ireland twice, defeating three tier 1 teams.
In 2025, they had only one win against Tier 1 teams so far, but that was important as they ultimately beat Wales in a match that guaranteed Italy didn’t finish the bottom of the Six Nations.
The current world champion Springboks is clearly heading towards the game as a huge favorite. However, Gonzalo Quesada’s side cannot be completely amortized.
After a 73-6 victory over Namibia last weekend, Italy is looking to bring that form into successive clashes with Wellwissias’ more illustrious neighbors.
Important details:
Date: Saturday, July 5th, 5:10pm Cat (3:10pm GMT, 11:10am ET)
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Judgment: Holly Davidson
How to watch: Matches are available on SuperSport, SABC 2, and SABC Radio.
Team News:
Damian Willemse starts with a full-back with Springboks. He will play the team’s first match since winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in New Zealand.
Willems was sidelined with two separate injuries throughout the Springbox 2024 season. One was handed down and within five games after making a comeback from surgery, a gro caliber injury picked up.
Stormers Colors’ foul play in a United Rugby Championship (URC) match against Cardiff, a tackle with clear head contact – was stopped in three matches. This included Springboks’ victory over the Barbarians. But he’s made it clear he’s finally going to play.
Jesse Kriel will keep the captain with an injury to Siya Kolisi, who was pulled out shortly before last week’s match against the Barbarians. Faf de Klerk has returned from injury but is benched with starting scrum half Morn Van Denberg.
Eben Etheves started out in the rocks with Rod de Jager, and Jean Clen was injured. Thus, Etheves extended the record for most Springbok Caps, raising it to 132.
Jean-Luc du Preez is expected to have his wife, and Vincent Tshituka began his Test debut for Springboks, excelling for the Barbarians in his unofficial debut.
Springboks:
Starting back: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (Captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Morne Van Den Berg
Advance: 8 Jasper Wise, 7 Vincent Tshiturka, 6 Marco of State, 5 Loed the Year, 4 Eben Eben Etzebeth, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 ox Night
Alternatives: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, January 2017 – Hendrick Wessel, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Moster, 21 Kwaga Smith, 22 Faf de Krerk, 23 Willie Le Roux
Italy:
Starting back: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco
Advances: 8 Lorenzo Cannon, 7 Manuel Zuriani, 6 Alessand Roisecor, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Nicolo Cannon (Captain), 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Ton Masodi Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischerti 1
Alternatives: 16 Pablo Dimcev, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhammad Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Ross Wintense, 21 David Odiaze, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Giulio Bertachuni
statistics:
South Africa has won 16 of its final 18 matches, including a final victory over the wild bars.
The Springboks played Italy seven times in South Africa, the first time the team has faced off at Loftus Versfeld. Boks has a 78% win rate.
South Africa won over 40 points in both their last two matches against Italy (49-3 in 2019 and 63-21 in 2022).