07/05/25 01:17:00
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07/05 13:15 CDT Springboks hold off Italy 42-24 at Loftus
Springboks hold off Italy 42-24 at Loftus
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) --- The blowout expected from world champion South
Africa didn't eventuate as it scratched out a 42-24 win over Italy at Loftus
Versfeld on Saturday.
The Springboks led 28-3 at halftime, dominating every facet. But even the ?bomb
squad,' which entered to a roar of acclaim, could not press home the advantage
into a scoreline their fans are used to against the Azzurri.
The depleted Italians stunned with a comeback that unleashed three converted
tries with two more tries ruled out. They got within 11 points of South Africa
until Marco van Staden crashed over with seven minutes to go.
Even that didn't temper Italy's fire, with the visitor attacking in South
Africa's 22 at fulltime.
The Springboks averaged 49 points in their last three matches against Italy and
set themselves up for another rout. They largely retained the strong side which
whipped the Barbarians 54-7 last weekend. The Boks bench, alone, had more caps
than Italy's entire matchday 23.
Italy struggled to find 23 fit players. The warmup win over Namibia cost them
two players, and a fifth player went home early during the past week when seven
more frontline players were hurt in training.
Coach Gonzalo Quesada reluctantly picked a 6-2 forwards-heavy bench to combat
the Springboks bomb squad, gave international debuts to four players including
both hookers, and named scrumhalf Alessandro Fusco as the flyhalf backup if
Giacomo Da Re was injured.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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