Rugby union news: Springboks vs Italy – Bok powerhouses return to overpower Azzurri
The Springboks’ heavy hitters have returned to the match-23 ahead of the official start of their international season when they take on Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, July 5.
Iconic leader Siya Kolisi remains absent from the squad due to a slight injury, which means Jesse Kriel will captain his first official Test match, becoming the 67th all-time Springbok captain.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Aidan Leo previews the massive clash.
Big arrivals
Heaps of Springbok legends and top performers over the last decade will be aiming to make an explosive start to their Test seasons this weekend.
Huge names such as vice-captain Eben Etzebeth, Handré Pollard, Damian Willemse, Faf de Klerk, and Willie le Roux all suit up in the green and gold once more with the aim of decimating an increasingly confident Italy side.
Those five, in particular, bring a level of experience and game management that will make it extremely difficult for the Italians to fluster the Boks.
De Klerk and Le Roux are set to feature off the bench, with the latter earning his 99th Test cap should he take the field on the weekend.
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Monster front row
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a mammoth and vastly experienced front row to feature against the Azzurri.
Loosehead prop Ox Nche continues alongside the world’s best hooker, Malcolm Marx, after both had consistent and steady performances against the Barbarians on June 28.
They are a starting duo that could potentially feature throughout the Test season.
Alongside them at tighthead is the anchorman, Wilco Louw, who will no doubt be licking his lips come scrum time.
Louw is known primarily for his outrageous dominance in the scrum and ferocious impact in the collision.
The experienced Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch offer support from the bench, along with versatile prop/hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
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Iconic lock pairing returns
Challenging rugby icons Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha as potentially the world’s greatest-ever lock pairing are Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager.
Having last featured together in the engine room in July of 2023, the two’s chemistry will likely be unmatched when both touch the first blade of grass at Loftus Versfeld this Saturday.
As a mixture of enforcer and technical ability that is hard for any team to match, they will no doubt give the Italians an incredibly tough contest.
The two are backed up by the URC Players’ Player of the Season, RG Snyman, and the ever-present, always-lively Franco Mostert.
Etzebeth replaces the injured Jean Kleyn, who picked up a knock to his knee against the BaaBaas and has returned to his franchise club Munster to rehabilitate.
“We feel for Jean,” Erasmus told SA Rugby.
“But injuries are part of the game, and we are fortunate to have good depth at lock within the squad, so there is no need for us to replace him at this stage.”
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Tshituka gets first official start
With the Barbarians contest not registered as an official Test match, the game against Italy will be Vincent Tshituka’s first official Test cap after an impressive showing in his first outing in the Bok jersey.
In the temporary absence of the world’s best player Pieter-Steph du Toit, Tshituka, along with a few others as deputies, will be vying for a consistent second-choice spot at blindside.
Pleased with Tshituka’s first performance in the green and gold, Erasmus said: “Vincent has fitted into our structures really well and he showed last week that he has the potential to play Test rugby, so we are excited to see what he can do against Italy and to see him make his debut.”
After a respectable performance against the BaaBaas, Marco van Staden continues at number six.
The physical presence of Jasper Wiese returns to the back of the scrum, replacing Jean-Luc du Preez who has temporarily left the squad to be present for the birth of his child.
Energetic utility back-rower Kwagga Smith provides insurance off the bench.
Backline breakdown
The ‘Iceman’ Handré Pollard starts at number 10, replacing emerging talent Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and partners prospect Morné van den Berg.
Van den Berg continues after a decent outing against the Barbarians, although he is under pressure from the experienced De Klerk on the bench and other influential number nines, such as Cobus Reinach and Grant Williams, in the wider squad.
Backfield brilliance continues in the back three, this time without flying full-back Aphelele Fassi, who is replaced by a 2023 World Cup–winning starter in Willemse.
Willemse experienced constant misfortune throughout 2024 as a result of a season hampered by injury.
He returns from suspension after receiving a red card at the end of the URC regular season against Cardiff.
Looking to revitalise his form and cement his place at full-back, he is joined by a combination he knows all too well, that of blazing finishers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
Both Kolbe and Arendse were sensational against the BaaBaas, with the former awarded Man of the Match.
The two will no doubt feature as starters throughout the Boks’ international season.
In the centre, it’s business as usual for the ever-present, always-dominant 12-13 combination of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel.
Kriel’s efforts as captain against the Barbarians were admirable, and he will be a worthy vice-captain option for Erasmus when Kolisi returns.
“We have some nice continuity with Jesse and he’s always been a leader and he did really well for us last week in that game, controlling the game with all the other senior players in the team,” Erasmus told Supersport.
“So it’s a nice opportunity for him to captain in a Test match.”
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Erasmus’ verdict
“We have a big squad and we would like to balance the game time within the group, while at the same time maintaining continuity in selection, and we believe this is the team that will be best suited for what we want to achieve against Italy,” said Erasmus.
“We are also fortunate to have a few experienced players back from injury, who will be keen to make their mark in the game.”
On Kolisi’s injury and Kriel’s captaincy, Erasmus said: “Siya unfortunately picked up a niggle, but Marco did a good job at flanker last week and he is one of the core players in our team, so we are blessed to have such depth in the squad.
“If one goes through this team, there are so many leaders, and we were impressed with how Jesse accepted the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband last week.
“He is a player who leads by example on and off the field, and he thoroughly deserves this honour.”
Speaking on the challenges the Boks will face against Italy, Erasmus said: “They are a quality team with a strong pack and quality backs, and their passion for the team and their country is incredible, so we expect them to throw everything at us.
“They also play an exciting brand of rugby, so it will be important for us to stick to our structures and deliver a quality performance all around to get the desired result.”
The Springboks boast a 94% win rate against Italy, having lost just once in 16 encounters.
The Boks will look to add to that record with a dominant display come July 5.
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Springbok squad vs Italy
Starting XV:
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 39 caps, 56 points (4 tries, 9 conversions, 4 penalties, 2 drop goals)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 points (18t, 3c, 5p)
13 Jesse Kriel (c) (Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 points (18t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 points (18t)
10 Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 80 caps, 772 points (7t, 109c, 168p, 5dg)
9 Morné van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps, 0 points
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 34 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – uncapped
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 10 points (2t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 131 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 16 caps, 0 points
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 points (21t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 77 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 61 caps, 0 points
19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 40 caps, 10 points (2t)
20 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 78 caps, 20 points (4t)
21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 51 caps, 45 points (9t)
22 Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 58 caps, 50 points (5t, 5c, 5p)
23 Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 98 caps, 75 points (15t)
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