Springboks crush Italy 66-7 in Turin with nine tries
The Springboks led Italy 45-0 at halftime in their first Nations Championship Northern Series match, at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday. Coach Rassie Erasmus said the team must play much better against France and Ireland.
South Africa scored six tries in the first half and three in the second. Italy scored one try, by lock Federico Ruzza. Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored a try, kicked 9 conversions and a penalty, and finished with 26 points.
Malcolm Marx scored two tries, which took his tally to 30 in a Springbok jersey. Captain Siya Kolisi, Damian Willemse, Wilco Louw, Paul de Villiers and Ethan Hooker also scored tries. Morne van den Berg was man of the match.
Salmaan Moerat withdrew before kick-off with a back spasm, and Lood de Jager started in his place. Erasmus said he hoped the injury was not serious and that Moerat was the only casualty. Franco Mostert came onto the bench.
Erasmus said Italy ran the ball from everywhere once they were 45 points behind, and that the Boks lost some rhythm after their changes. He said the Boks conceded only one penalty in the first half, and about five penalties and five turnovers in the game. He said the win was satisfying, but the team must improve to compete against France and Ireland.
Key facts
- Who
- Rassie Erasmus (Springbok coach); Salmaan Moerat (Springbok player who withdrew from the match-23 with a back spasm); Lood de Jager (Springbok player who started in place of Moerat); Franco Mostert (Springbok player who came onto the bench)
- What
- South Africa's Springboks beat Italy 66-7 in their first Nations Championship Northern Series match, scoring six tries for a 45-0 halftime lead and three more in the second half. Coach Rassie Erasmus said the team must play much better against France and Ireland, and that Salmaan Moerat withdrew before kick-off with a back spasm.
- When
- 7 November 2026
- Where
- Turin, Italy, Paris
- Status
- Final result