South Africa scores two goals, securing victory over Italy
In a thrilling encounter at the 52,000-capacity Loftus Versfeld, the South Africa national rugby team emerged victorious against Italy, winning 42-24 on July 5, 2025. The Springboks' early dominance, followed by a resilient fightback from Italy, made for an exciting match.
The Springboks took control of the game in the first half, scoring four tries and building a 28-3 lead by halftime. Morne van den Berg scored two of these tries, and Handre Pollard converted all the tries, contributing to the strong lead.
In the second half, Italy showed remarkable determination, scoring four tries themselves, including efforts from Pablo Dimcheff and Niccolò Cannone. They managed to narrow the deficit to 35-24, capitalizing on South Africa's ill-discipline to threaten a comeback.
Key moments in the match included a yellow card shown to Italy's Alessandro Izekor in the 73rd minute, and Marco van Staden scoring a late try for South Africa to seal the victory at 42-24.
The Springboks' performance was not without its flaws, particularly in the second half, where they struggled at the breakdown. However, their early dominance and crucial late try secured the win against a resilient Italian side.
South Africa captain Jesse Kriel acknowledged the challenge posed by Italy, stating, "They are an extremely passionate side, and we did not underestimate them." Niccolò Cannone, Italy's captain, expressed happiness with their performance, despite some areas needing improvement.
The 27-year-old half-back from the Johannesburg-based Lions won the player of the match award. Manuel Zuliani, Pablo Dimcheff on debut, and Niccolo Cannone scored tries for Italy, while Kurt-Lee Arendse, Kriel, Vincent Koch, and Van Staden scored for the Springboks. Giacomo Da Re kicked three conversions and a penalty for Italy, and Pollard slotted all six conversions for the Springboks, raising his total for the Springboks to 784 points in 81 Tests.
The second Test between the Springboks and Italy is scheduled for next Saturday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. As the Springboks continue their 100% record when hosting Italy, they will be looking to maintain their momentum in the upcoming match. Only five players from the Italian team that lost to Ireland in the last 2025 Six Nations Championship started the match against the Springboks, suggesting that the Italian side may look to shake things up for the second Test.
In theAftermath of their thrilling rugby victory, the Springboks are now shifting their focus to the European-leagues,particularly the Premier-league, for their upcoming football matches. Despite their recent success on the rugby field, the Springboks' captain, Jesse Kriel, acknowledged the tough competition they might face, just as he did against Italy in rugby. Meanwhile, Italy, with a resilient spirit shown in the recent rugby encounter, may be aiming to turn the tables around in their next football match against the Springboks.
