South Africa shrugged off a second straight red card and powered past Italy 32 -14 at Juventus Stadium on Saturday, delivering another display of grit and clarity under pressure.
The Springboks lost lock Franco Mostert inside 12 minutes after a high tackle on Paolo Garbisi, forcing them to play almost the entire match with fourteen men. Yet the world champions leaned on the same adaptability that saw them defeat France under similar circumstances a week earlier.
Despite leading by only six points heading into the final stages, South Africa’s bench delivered when it mattered. Grant Williams sprinted in from a counterattack launched inside their own half to stretch the lead, before Ethan Hooker — shifted from midfield to the wing — claimed his first test try from a clever kick pass by Manie Libbok.
Captain Siya Kolisi said the team prepares for these moments even if they remain painful.
“We always plan for red cards but it does not make it easy for us,” he said. “Seeing Franco on the sideline, we could see how much it hurt him. I love how this team stands up and fights. Whatever happens between those four lines, we control what we can.”
Italy had their own frustrations. Garbisi, flawless from the tee a week earlier, missed three of six attempts. Coach Gonzalo Quesada argued Mostert’s dismissal was harsh but admitted his side failed to take control.
“The key was not putting points on the board when we had the chance,” he said.
South Africa fielded an experimental lineup after making eleven changes from the France match, but the reshuffle was quickly abandoned after the red card. Coach Rassie Erasmus responded by gradually replacing the new faces with experienced forwards and backs, and the Springboks tightened their approach.
Handre Pollard marked his return with a composed performance, slotting a penalty and converting Marco van Staden’s try before halftime for a 10 – 3 lead.
Italy drew close with two Garbisi penalties while holding a temporary two player advantage after Van Staden was sin binned. But momentum swung back when Lorenzo Cannone was shown a yellow card and Pollard nudged South Africa further ahead.
The Springboks then turned down an easy shot at goal for a scrum, allowing Morne van den Berg to snipe over. Italy hit back through Ange Capuozzo but another Garbisi miss kept the deficit intact.
South Africa finished strongly, scoring two stylish tries to close out another impressive win under adversity. Libbok missed the final conversion after timing out, the lone blemish on an otherwise clinical ending.
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