Sport Reporter
South Africa demolished Italy 66-7 in Turin on Saturday, scoring nine tries to maintain their unbeaten Nations Championship record and strengthen their position at the top of the Southern Hemisphere standings.
The world champions led 45-0 at halftime after a devastating opening 40 minutes in which their forwards overwhelmed an injury-hit Italian side and their backs repeatedly exploited gaps in the home defence.
Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 26 points, including a try, while hooker Malcolm Marx crossed twice as the Springboks recorded their fourth consecutive victory in the competition.
The emphatic result gave South Africa another bonus-point victory and significantly improved their points difference in the race against New Zealand for a place in the inaugural Nations Championship final.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu opened the scoring with an early penalty before breaking through the Italian defence for a long-range try in the ninth minute.
Scrumhalf Morné van den Berg and Marx then added tries as South Africa established control through their powerful forward play, particularly at the lineout.
Captain Siya Kolisi extended the lead following a well-placed 50-22 kick from Feinberg-Mngomezulu, before Damian Willemse crossed after a pass from Jasper Wiese.
Italy’s problems deepened when prop Muhamed Hasa received a yellow card in the 30th minute. Marx capitalised on the numerical advantage to score his second try from another driving maul.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted all six first-half tries, giving the visitors a commanding 45-point advantage at the interval.
South Africa continued their dominance after the restart, with replacement prop Wilco Louw scoring the seventh try shortly after entering the field.
Italy eventually responded through lock Federico Ruzza, who crossed in the 61st minute following an attacking move involving replacement scrumhalf Stephen Varney.
The Springboks, however, finished strongly. Replacement flanker Paul de Villiers scored from another rolling maul before winger Ethan Hooker crossed in the closing moments to complete the rout.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu finished with nine conversions and a penalty from 10 successful kicks, adding to his try for a personal tally of 26 points.
The defeat exposed the difficulties facing an Italian side missing several regular starters, including captain Michele Lamaro and midfield pairing Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex.
Italy have now lost all four of their Nations Championship matches, while South Africa remain unbeaten after victories over England, Scotland and Wales in July.
The Springboks next face Six Nations champions France in Paris on Friday, 13 November, before travelling to Dublin to meet Ireland on 21 November.
Italy will attempt to recover when they host Argentina in Genoa next Saturday, followed by Fiji in Udine a week later.
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