South Africa closed out the two match series against Italy with a much better performance than that in the first. The win gave them the series and showed they will be a force in the up-coming tri-nations against New Zealand and Australia.
Italy made nine changes coming into the second test and perhaps that did not help their cause as
scored the first 20 points and finished with 26 overall as South Africa thrashed Italy 55-11 in Buffalo City.
added to his points tally and with it claimed a share of the try scoring record. Italy’s try came in the 65th minute to Michele Sepe but it could not mask a drubbing.
Scorers
South Africa: Tries – Morne Steyn (2), Pierre Spies, Jannie du Plessis, Bryan Habana, Flip van der Merwe, BJ Botha. Conversions – Steyn (5), Ruan Pienaar (2). Penalties – Steyn (2)
Italy: Try – Michele Sepe. Penalties – Mirco Bergamasco (2)
Teams
South Africa
Gio Aplon; Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Ricky Januarie; Pierre Spies, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger; Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha; Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements used: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Flip van der Merwe, Dewald Potgieter, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Wynand Oliver
Italy
Luke McLean; Michele Sepe, Gonzalo Canale, Andrea Masi, Mirco Bergamasco; Craig Gower, Simon Picone; Sergio Parisse (capt), Paul Derbyshire, Manoa Vosawai; Marco Bortolami, Carlo Antonio Del Fava; Lorenzo Cittadini, Fabio Ongaro, Salvatore Perugini
Replacements used: Leonardo Ghiralindi, Franco Sbaraglini, Quintin Geldenhuys, Alessandro Zanni, Tito Tebaldi, Riccardo Bocchino
Replacement not used: Matteo Pratichetti
Referee: Andrew Small (ENG)