By Johnathan Paoli
South Africa overcame a spirited Italian performance and a chaotic, card-filled encounter to claim a 32–14 victory at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy on Saturday afternoon, pulling clear late with a flurry of second-half tries.
In conditions marked by drizzle and light winds, both sides produced an intense, often frantic game, with Italy’s ingenuity and South Africa’s physicality shaping a gripping contest from start to finish.
Italy entered the match leaning heavily on Ange Capuozzo’s counter-attacking spark, the organisational calm of captain Juan Ignacio Brex, and a hungry pack determined to slow down the world champions.
South Africa, meanwhile, banked on Handre Pollard’s composure, the edge of Damian Willemse and Kurt-Lee Arendse, and a bruising forward unit led by Siya Kolisi.
Bench power from Kwagga Smith promised to tilt the arm-wrestle and ultimately did.
Pollard kicked off proceedings, and the Springboks started brightly before the Italian
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