The Boks are confident and riding a wave of momentum after their emphatic 54–7 win over the Barbarians in Cape Town this past weekend. However, they’re fully aware that that was an exhibition match, and Italy will bring a far higher level of intensity.

Saturday’s clash is a proper Test match, and the step up in competition will be significant, something the back-to-back World Champions are preparing for.

While the Boks managed the Barbarians comfortably in wet conditions at the Cape Town Stadium, the Italians also flexed their muscle, dispatching Namibia’s Welwitschias 73–6 in Windhoek.

Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit. Photo: Morgan Piek

Springbok scrum coach and former Free State tighthead, Daan Human, has cautioned that the Azzurri won’t be pushovers. Still, the hit-out against the Barbarians has provided some valuable preparation ahead of the team’s first Test of the season.

“We took a lot of learnings from that match because we were up against two of the best tightheads in France right now, according to their coach, who was in charge of the Barbarians,” said Human.

“I even had some inside info – unfortunately only after the game – but we had studied them beforehand and gave them the respect they deserved.

“There’s a lot of experience among those players, and we know the French mentality. Many of their guys play in France, especially in the front row, so it was a proper challenge. I think for our players, not just the starters but also those who came off the bench, there were important lessons learned.”

Human, who has recently been running training sessions with some of the forwards on his farm in the Free State, added that preparing for Italy is more straightforward from an analysis perspective, but the team still needs to be sharp, as the Italians will be tough to beat.

“The big difference is that the Barbarians don’t play together week in and week out,” he explained.

Daan Human and Bryan Habana. Photo: Morgan Piek

“So, although we tried to analyse them individually, they hadn’t played together the week before, which made it tricky. You have to go back and study the various club sides they’ve been part of.

“This week, though, we’re facing a proper Test side – a team that plays together regularly – so there’s more structure and more video footage to work with. That makes a big difference for me.”

The Springbok team for Saturday’s Test will be named on Tuesday, and it’s expected that a number of seasoned and regular starters will return to the matchday squad, though a debutant or two may still feature.

Saturday’s Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria will be the 17th between South Africa and Italy. Kick-off is at 17:10.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg