Overview
- Rassie Erasmus made 11 changes from the France win, with Siya Kolisi again captain and the Test set for Saturday at Turin’s Allianz Stadium under referee James Doleman.
- Handré Pollard starts at flyhalf alongside Morne van den Berg, with Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie in midfield and Edwill van der Merwe joining Kurt-Lee Arendse out wide.
- Marco van Staden is designated as emergency hooker cover in a 6–2 bench split that includes hybrid Andre Esterhuizen, with Kwagga Smith returning and RG Snyman in line for cap No. 49.
- Italy retained almost their entire starting XV after beating Australia, bringing in Marco Riccioni for Simone Ferrari and opting for a 6–2 bench to match South Africa’s forward power.
- Lood de Jager is unavailable due to a four-match ban, with both camps highlighting scrums, mauls, breakdown pressure, and the Boks’ rush defence and kicking game as decisive areas.