The Springboks return to Gqeberha’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium this Saturday, 12 July, as they prepare to take on a determined Italian side.
Springboks vs Italy teams and kick off time
After last week’s roller-coaster clash — where the Boks led 28‑3 at halftime before coasting to a 42‑24 victory — this match promises to be another test of their resilience and depth.
The match kicks off at 17:10 SAST, with viewers able to follow the action live on SuperSport and SABC 2. The Springboks field a strong starting XV, headed by captain Salmaan Moerat at lock.
The backline is spearheaded by fullback Willie le Roux, who celebrates his 100th Test cap, joined by wingers Edwill van der Merweand Makazole Mapimpi, with Manie Libbok and Grant Williams directing play at fly‑half and scrum‑half.
In the loose forwards and engine room, Marco van Staden and Pieter‑Steph du Toit bring physicality to the breakdown, while Jasper Wiese provides the ball‑carrying firepower as number 8.
The tight five is anchored by props Thomas du Toit, Wilco Louw, and Malcolm Marx, with the engine driven by hooker Salmaan Moerat.
Italy counters with a mix of youth and experience, captain Niccolo Cannone leading from lock. Key players include fly‑half Giacomo De Re, scrum‑half Alessandro Garbisi, and back‑three threats Mirko Belloni and Jacopo Trulla.
Their renowned set‑piece strength and kicking game stood out last week, and they will look to exploit any slack at the breakdown.
Salmaan Moerat has been vocal about Italy’s threat.
“They are a very physical team, so it’s going to be a massive game,” he said.
“They pride themselves on their set‑pieces… and they showed real fight at the breakdowns last week, so we have to fight fire with fire.”
Head coach Stick Du Plessis echoed those sentiments, pointing out Italy’s growth since the Six Nations.
“They bounced back strongly in the second half… they have a well‑organised kicking game and outside backs with energy, so we need to improve and be much more effective in the way we want to play,” he said.
Despite significant rotation in the Springbok squad, Stick expressed confidence in each player’s readiness:
“We trust all the players in our squad… Every player knows what our focus is and what needs to be done,” he stated.
Fullback Willie le Roux will become just the eighth Springbok to reach 100 Test matches. Stick shared fond memories of their journey:
“What we have seen in him as a player and how smart he is… is something special.”
Moerat too celebrated the milestone: “To see him play his 100th Test is unbelievable… shows the quality of the player he is.”
Adding to the excitement is the local flavour. Stick, originally from the Eastern Cape, acknowledged the significance of playing in his home region.
“We are extremely excited about the passionate support… hope we can make this a special match for the fans, Willie, the debutants… and the country as a whole.”
Springboks vs Italy prediction
Expect intensity from the first whistle. If the Springboks maintain their physical edge at the breakdown and control the tempo early, they should dominate.
Italy will test their discipline and defence, particularly through their aerial kicks and forward pressure.
Predicted final score: Springboks 38–17 Italy – a solid victory with room for Italy to shine.
This article contains a match prediction which is speculative in nature. Final outcomes may differ based on player performance, in-game decisions, and other unforeseen factors.
