The South African rugby team secured a decisive victory over Italy in the Nations Championship, dominating the match with a 38-0 lead within the first 25 minutes.
The Springboks overwhelmed the Italian side, ultimately scoring nine tries to assert their strength on European soil, as reported by france24.com.
The South African side maintained control across every area of play, leaving the Italian team, coached by Gonzalo Quesada, unable to respond during the opening stages. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the 24-year-old South African fly-half, proved instrumental by scoring 26 points with a 100% success rate on kicks, according to france24.com. The team’s aggressive start included five converted tries in the first twenty-five minutes.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Italian side avoided a scoreless finish when Federico Ruzza scored a try in the 62nd minute, which was subsequently converted by Tommaso Allan. This effort prevented a repeat of the 45-0 shutout the team suffered against South Africa in July 2025, noted france24.com.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus utilized his bench early in the second half, bringing on prominent players such as Siya Kolisi, Jasper Wiese, and Malcolm Marx. Marx notably scored two tries following his introduction in the 45th minute, france24.com reported. The adjustments allowed South Africa to maintain pressure, adding two more tries in the final minutes of the match.
"On aime affronter les meilleurs," said François Cros, as reported by lequipe.fr. The French forward’s comments highlight the anticipation surrounding the upcoming fixtures against the South African team.
The result serves as a signal to upcoming opponents, including France and Ireland, regarding the current form of the South African squad. With the next Rugby World Cup less than a year away, the Springboks are using these European matches to establish their dominance and build momentum, according to france24.com.
Why was the Italian team considered vulnerable entering the match?
The Italian side was missing several key players, including Menoncello, Brex, and Lamaro, due to injuries, according to france24.com.
Did Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu finish the entire match?
He was briefly removed from play around the hour mark for a concussion protocol, but he returned to the pitch for the final ten minutes, france24.com reported.
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