The win ensured that South Africa has virtually secured their passage to the quarter-finals as they only have the Canucks of Canada left to face in Pool B.

It was the curse of the props for the Azzurri as the starting tighthead, Simone Ferrari, limped off of the park with a hamstring injury after the first scrum in just the second minute of the Test. His replacement, Marco Riccioni, lasted just 13 minutes before he was replaced due to a concussion.

This saw the remainder of the Test forced into uncontested scrums, and this took a lot of flavour out of the contest. Early in the second half, the starting loosehead prop, Andrea Lovotti, was sent off for his part in a dangerous tip tackle on Springboks eighth-man, Duane Vermeulen. The replacement prop, Nicola Quaglio, can consider himself extremely lucky not to have received a red or at least a yellow card, as he was just as guilty as Lovotti.

This was definitely a game-changer, and needless to say the Boks shifted into a higher gear to close the game strongly.

While Kolbe and Bongi Mbonambi both scored a try in the first half, the winger completed his brace in the 54th minute. There were also second-half tries for Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, RG Snyman and Malcolm Marx.

While it is a full five points in the bag for South Africa, the coach, Rassie Erasmus conceded that it was not an easy win and the red card was a game-changer.

"I thought tactically and technically, there were definitely some mistakes, but the way the guys physically pitched is what we wanted to get out of this game.

"If we as South Africans want to go all the way, that’s something that we need in our game. We felt that in the previous tests we’ve played this year, it wasn’t really consistent.

"I thought in this specific test match, our physicality, which is one of our strengths, was very consistent through the game, and I am really proud of that."

 The Italian coach, Connor O’Shea, bemoaned his team discipline, especially as they were close to scoring then the Lovotti received his marching orders.

"We didn’t get the chance to show our true worth in the second half.

"The squad fought hard, but it is hard against a team that is stronger.

"They now know the level they must play at and, as I said before, the match was over after that red card.

The Boks' next match at the World Cup will be on Tuesday when they face Canada in Kobe, with this Test kicking off at 12:15.

Scorers:

Springboks: Tries – Cheslin Kolbe 2, Bongi Mbonambi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, RG Snyman, Malcolm Marx Conv. – Handré Pollard 4 Pen. – Pollard.

Italy: Pen. - Tommaso Allan.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport