For a second week in a row, the Boks fought for victory with 14 men on the park after lock Franco Mostert was shown a highly debatable red card in the 12th minute. A week prior at Stade de France in Paris, the Boks fought back with a man down after Lood de Jager’s controversial straight red card for a sensational 32-17 victory to silence the French who had been talking revenge all week in the build-up.

On Saturday, the Springboks, with 11 changes, had a tougher task as it was a longer period with 14 men, and they managed to claim a stunning victory that oozed with character and that famous South African fighting spirit.

Damian Willemse. Photo: SA Rugby

The Player of the Match, Willemse, said it was all down to an outstanding team effort that once again showcased the tremendous guts and character of the World Champions to deny the Azzurri.

“It was obviously a very tough game, and for me to get the award was mainly due to the forwards,” said Willemse.

“The tight five did a hell of a job, especially when Franco Mostert had to go off. We had to work really hard and come up with plans.

“So, overall, I’m pleased with the resilience and character everyone showed, and credit to the coaching staff too for making plans and coming up with solutions when we went down to 14 men. A lot of guys coming into the team, who hadn’t had a lot of game time, stepped up in a big game like this, and it gives us a lot of confidence.”

Willemse further lauded the plans put in place by the coaches and the way the players bought into them as they once again managed to find a way to win when everything was aligned against them.

“The big word to use is probably trust – at half-time in the change room, the coaches gave us clear plans and messages for what we should do in the second half,” said the player known as Gazza.

“Italy pressed us hard and applied a lot of pressure in the first 10 minutes, but we stuck to our plan, and it takes a team and trust to do something like that. It shows why this badge means so much to us, South Africa, and our families.

“To be honest, I can’t find the perfect word to describe what it means to this team and for everyone to go out there and get the results.”

This week, the Boks are up against Ireland, who have become their nemesis in the past couple of years, and they will be targeting a very big performance in Dublin. Willemse said they will have to deliver a near-perfect game.

“Obviously, we have an eye on Ireland already, and we’ll focus heavily on that game this week,” said Willemse.

Franco Mostert receives a straight red card ??

The Springboks are down to 14 men for the second week in a row ??

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“This group of players haven’t won at the Aviva Stadium yet, and that’s definitely a goal for us. We want to put up a strong performance, but it’s going to be a massive game. We’re really looking forward to playing in Dublin.

“We’re going to need everything – every squad member and coach – to get the result we want in Ireland. They are a world-class team, and we know what they can do, especially in Dublin.

“They are a very strong side with a good coaching staff as well, so they’ll be ready and prepared to come up with plans for us. We’ll go back to the drawing board on Monday and make sure we dial in our plans, so that we are ready for the challenge.”

Saturday’s Test between Ireland and the Springboks in Dublin kicks off at 19:30.

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