Springboks Defeat Italy 42-24 at Loftus Versfeld

The South African Springboks began their 2025 Test season with a 42-24 victory over a resilient and injury-hit Italian side at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Despite dominating a strong first half with four tries and a 28-3 lead, the Springboks faced a spirited Italian comeback in the second half, which exposed some defensive and set-piece weaknesses, especially in the lineout where Italy stole five throws. Captain Jesse Kriel and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg were instrumental, with van den Berg scoring two tries, while debutants like Vincent Tshituka showed promise despite some disallowed tries. Italy, coached by Gonzalo Quesada, fielded a depleted squad including several uncapped players and a forwards-heavy bench, resulting from injuries and absences, but still managed to score three converted tries and kept up pressure late in the game. The match served as a valuable test for the Springboks, who are in a building phase ahead of the Rugby Championship and key upcoming Tests against Australia and New Zealand. Coach Rassie Erasmus will likely focus on addressing the lineout issues and improving consistency in the second half as the team prepares for their next fixtures.