The Springboks moved to a maximum 20 log points in the Nations Championship with a 66-7 demolition of Italy in Turin on Saturday, their fourth consecutive victory in the competition.
South Africa were clinical from the first whistle, combining dominant forward play with sharp tactical kicking and efficient finishing to lead 45-0 at the break — crossing for six converted tries and adding a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty goal before Italy had troubled the scoreboard.
The driving maul was central to the Boks' first-half destruction. Siya Kolisi and Malcolm Marx — who crossed twice — both scored directly from the maul, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu opening the account himself before Morne van den Berg and Damian Willemse also touched down. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted all six and added the penalty, contributing 19 points in the half alone.
Italy's only meaningful moments came after the hour mark. Federico Ruzza finished a set-piece move in the 61st minute, Tommaso Allan converting to make it 52-7, but the Boks responded immediately through two further maul-sourced scores. Wilco Louw had extended the lead to 52-0 shortly after the restart with a determined close-range drive, Paul de Villiers crossed for the Boks' third maul try of the match in the 72nd minute, and Ethan Hooker finished off a set-piece move at full-time to seal the 66-7 scoreline.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu finished with 26 points from his try, nine conversions and the penalty, but it was halfback Morne van den Berg who was named Player of the Match for his accurate kicking, crisp service and composed game management behind a dominant pack.
The Springboks turn their attention to France next weekend.