Mzwandile Stick pushed back firmly against any notion that Italy's injury list makes Saturday's Test in Turin a soft touch. Speaking to Rugby365 on Friday, he singled out Manuel Zuliani as a breakdown menace capable of causing the Boks real problems even off the bench, while flagging Capuozzo's finishing ability, Garbisi's threat when given time and space, and Paolo Odogwu as a physically imposing replacement for the injured Brex and Menoncello at centre. Stick also pointed to Italy's improving set-piece — their driving maul and scrum in particular — as areas where Quesada's side can genuinely hurt South Africa. The message from the coaching box is clear: the Boks are treating this as a full-strength Test, not a free swing.
AnalysisSpringboksRugby365
Stick warns Boks: don't write off a depleted Italy
Stick singles out Zuliani, Capuozzo, Garbisi and Odogwu as genuine threats, warning that Italy's injury absentees don't make this Turin Test anything close to straightforward.
- Mzwandile Stick
- Springboks
- Italy
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