Overview
- Franco Mostert was sent off around the 12th minute for a dangerous tackle on Paolo Garbisi, leaving South Africa a man down for nearly 70 minutes.
- South Africa scored four tries — Marco van Staden, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams and Ethan Hooker — with Handre Pollard supplying the rest from the tee.
- Italy stayed in touch through Ange Capuozzo’s try and Garbisi’s penalties, but multiple missed kicks undercut their position.
- Rassie Erasmus made 11 changes from the side that beat France, and the reshuffled Boks also endured a van Staden yellow that briefly reduced them to 13.
- The Springboks remain unbeaten on their European tour and next face Ireland in Dublin after a wet, scrappy contest and a red-card decision some analysts questioned.