11/07/2026 07:43:00
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11/07 07:41 CST Springboks thrash depleted Italy 66-7 with 9 tries in Nations
Championship rugby
Springboks thrash depleted Italy 66-7 with 9 tries in Nations Championship rugby
TURIN, Italy (AP) --- World champion South Africa smothered a depleted Italy
66-7 as predicted in Nations Championship rugby on Saturday.
The Springboks scored nine tries, all converted, at Juventus Stadium. A
halftime lead of 45-0 and Italy's weak defense hinted at the Springboks
threatening a rare century but errors crept in, the intensity was reduced, and
Italy rediscovered its pride.
South Africa improved to 4-0 in the championship and boosted its aim to make
the final by giving its points differential lead over New Zealand a huge bump.
The Boks play Six Nations champion France in Paris on Friday.
Italy dropped to 0-4 with Argentina and Fiji to come. The Azzurri were missing
a clutch of injured front-liners but played noticeably better when replacement
halves Stephen Varney and Tommaso Allan arrived after an hour.
Despite one loss in history to Italy, and 10 years ago, Springboks coach Rassie
Erasmus picked an uncompromising side based on the Greatest Rivalry series win
over New Zealand two months ago. They hit the ground running.
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