Rugby, difficulties do not stop an overpowering South Africa: Italy beaten 14-32
TORINO - 70 minutes played in numerical superiority were not enough for Italy to compete on equal terms with South Africa. A group, more than just a team, that confirms itself on the roof of the world. It ended 34-20 (first half 10-3) for the Springboks, who closed on a crescendo, more solid, more lucid, better (and they should be), but even less tired after a match that saw them often engaged in defending.
And in the end there is some mortification for Italy, in a less positive version of the one that took the field in Udine against Australia. There could have been no doubt about the 'direction' of the prediction, even though South African coach Erasmus had given numerous stars a Saturday off. But a potentially different scenario had opened up when, after only 12 minutes, the hosts lost second row Mostert, recipient of an absolutely too severe red card, the result of new rules and criteria, as well as the intrusiveness of the Tmo, football's equivalent of the Var system. The fact remains that in 15 against 14 the Azzurri could have exploited the situation in some way.
And indeed South Africa spent the first twenty minutes defensively with a man down, giving the impression of being in trouble. While Italy showed physicality and found some good combinations. However, the Springboks did not take any real risks, also because the challenge in the aerial game, triggered by many shifting kicks, was essentially resolved in their favour. Throw in two not-impossible set-pieces missed by Garbisi, add in the surprise of the day devised by Erasmus, who came up with four changes within the first half-hour of play, and the score was unblocked.
The first sign of trouble came in the 32nd minute: for once South Africa went on the offensive and immediately brought home three points, with a try from the infallible Pollard. Four minutes later Italy equalised with Garbisi, but then with time practically running out, having a scrum in their favour under their own posts, they were penalised by New Zealand referee Doleman for an early push: second penalty for the visitors, who set up two-three charges until Van Staden's try.
First half 3-10, with a big bag of regrets. The match was not beautiful and rather confusing, in which, however, Italy came back in full force, with two 'piazzate' (penalties) by Garbisi at the start of the second half. The score was 9-10, although after the game, pointing out that the second penalty had brought with it the temporary expulsion of Van Staden, the Azzurri coach Gonzalo Quesadaha remarked that they could have made another choice and gone for the try. At 13 against 15, a three-quarter offside put Pollard in a position to score another three points.
