Overview
- After Monday's team announcement, Rassie Erasmus named a largely first-choice match 23 for the Nations Championship opener in Turin with Salmaan Moerat starting at lock in place of the injured Eben Etzebeth.
- A 37-man touring squad includes six uncapped players—Riley Norton, Emmanuel Tshituka, Luan Giliomee, Yaqeen Ahmed, Markus Muller and Sebastian de Klerk—but none were selected for the Italy matchday 23.
- Young flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed reported a sore shoulder and may be sent home for scans as coaching staff monitor his fitness and decide on his availability for the rest of the tour.
- Italy will face the Boks with a heavily depleted side, with reports of roughly 15–17 absentees, and Springbok coaches have warned the team not to underestimate Italy’s strong set-piece and scrum.
- South Africa currently tops the southern conference on points difference and Erasmus has signalled the selection is meant to protect that position while rehearsing combinations ahead of France, Ireland and the Finals Weekend at Twickenham.