For the second week running, the South African Springboks demonstrated remarkable fortitude, playing the majority of their match against Italy with 14 men to secure a commanding 32-14 victory in Turin.
Early Setback and Italian Missed Opportunities
The match, played on Saturday 15 November 2025, took a dramatic turn after just 11 minutes when Springbok lock Franco Mostert was shown a straight red card for dangerous play. This gave Italy a golden opportunity to press their advantage against the world's number-one ranked side, especially after their morale-boosting win over Australia the previous week.
However, the Azzurri failed to capitalise. Fly-half Paolo Garbisi, who had been flawless from the tee against Australia, missed two kickable penalties in the first half. This profligacy with the boot proved costly, as it allowed a reshuffled South African side, featuring 11 changes from the team that beat France, to weather the early storm.
Springboks Seize Control Before Half-Time
Against the run of play, a rare venture into the Italian 22 resulted in a penalty successfully converted by Handre Pollard. Although Garbisi eventually levelled the score, the Springboks landed a crucial blow right on the stroke of half-time. Marco van Staden powered over for a try, which Pollard converted, sending the visitors into the break with a 10-3 lead.
Second-Half Resilience Seals the Win
After the interval, Garbisi found his range with two penalties, narrowing the gap to a single point and setting up a tense finale. Yet, the South African response was emphatic. Another Pollard penalty was quickly followed by a try from Morne van Den Berg, re-establishing a comfortable buffer for the 14-man Boks.
Italy's lone try came from a darting run by Ange Capuozzo, but Garbisi's failed conversion meant the home side remained at arm's length. The visitors then put the result beyond any doubt with two late tries in the final ten minutes from Grant Williams and Ethan Hooker, finally breaking Italian spirit and confirming a 32-14 triumph.
The result leaves Italy with significant regrets, having been unable to make their numerical advantage and territorial pressure count, often resorting to ineffective tactical kicks when in promising positions. For South Africa, it was another powerful show of strength and resilience, proving their world-class depth and mental toughness.
