Rusty Springboks Edge Italy: Improvement a Must Before Rugby Championship
The Springboks’ 2025 Test season got off to an underwhelming start, despite securing a 42-24 victory over Italy at Loftus Versfeld. While the scoreboard reflects a solid win, the match told a far more complex story. It was one of missed opportunities, defensive lapses, and a South African side that looked far from its best.
Leading 28-3 at halftime, the reigning four-time world champions appeared firmly in control. However, Italy came out firing in the second half and exposed cracks in the Bok defense. They outplayed the hosts for large parts of the final 40 minutes. The famed “bomb squad” off the bench failed to turn the tide as expected. As a result, South Africa was forced to absorb pressure rather than impose their will in the closing stages.
The result was a reminder that no Test match can be taken lightly, even against perceived underdogs.
Erasmus: “It Was a Frustrating Game”
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus did not hold back in his post-match assessment. Despite walking away with the win, he acknowledged the many areas where his side fell short.
“It was a frustrating game,” Erasmus admitted. “Italy left several of their big players at home and gave youngsters a chance. They came here with nothing to lose and really challenged us across the park, in the scrums, mauls, defence, and attack. It was a genuine Test match, and we got exposed in a few departments.”
He emphasized that despite having new faces in the team, the performance was not up to standard.
“There are no excuses. Yes, I’d rather have a performance like this early in the season, but that doesn’t make it acceptable.”
A Wake-Up Call Before Tougher Tests
Following the Italy series, South Africa will face Georgia before heading into the Rugby Championship. There, they will come up against heavyweights New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. Given the caliber of those opponents, this Italy encounter may prove to be a timely wake-up call for the Boks.
Although the match served as a valuable testing ground for fresh talent, it also highlighted the work still needed to bring the squad up to championship form. Consistency in defense, impact from the bench, and sharper execution will be critical going forward.
Stronger Showing Expected in Gqeberha
The Springboks’ next challenge will come in the second Test against Italy, set to take place in Gqeberha this coming weekend. With the team under no illusions about their underwhelming performance in Pretoria, a stronger and more clinical outing is expected.
South Africa’s pedigree as back-to-back World Cup winners means they are held to the highest standards by fans and by themselves. The missteps at Loftus may have raised eyebrows. However, they also offer the chance for course correction at an early stage in the season.
If there’s one certainty in Springbok rugby, it’s that they don’t stay down for long. Expect a renewed sense of purpose and sharper execution in their next outing, as they look to build towards a dominant 2025 campaign.
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