The Springboks produced a ruthless statement performance in Turin on Saturday, running in nine tries to dismantle Italy 66-7 in their Nations Championship fixture. The selection Rassie Erasmus named earlier in the week signalled intent, and the team delivered emphatically — a result driven in large part by the need to maximise points difference in a tournament format where the Boks and All Blacks could both finish the series unbeaten, with points differential deciding who advances to the inaugural final.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was the standout, contributing 26 points that included a try, a 50-22 and a penalty to open the scoring. His solo show-and-go for his try and an audacious 50-22 that set up Kolisi's score were the highlights of an afternoon in which he looked more assured than at any point this season.
The Boks scored six tries in the first half alone, with the driving maul the primary weapon. Morne van den Berg, named man of the match, crossed in the 15th minute after the first lineout drive cut through the Italian defence. Four minutes later another maul marched 20 metres unchallenged to give Malcolm Marx his 30th test try. Kolisi added a third maul try in the 23rd minute, the move set up by Feinberg-Mngomezulu's 50-22. Lood de Jager, who replaced Salmaan Moerat after the lock was lost in the warm-up, charged down a kick to create another opportunity, with the resulting turnover setting up Jasper Wiese for what shaped as one of the tries of the match.
The forward pack was relentless, though Italy did earn some credit at scrum time in the first half — holding the Bok eight on three occasions and winning a penalty on their own ball on a fourth, a rare concession. The bomb squad's arrival after the break restored Bok dominance in the set-piece.
Ethan Hooker was consistently effective throughout, gaining metres with ball in hand and dealing comfortably with everything in the air. The Boks eased off in the second half but the damage was long done by then, Italy's sole try providing only cosmetic relief in a 59-point defeat.