Overview
- South Africa arrive in Turin off a 32-17 victory over France in Paris, with former captains Victor Matfield and Jean de Villiers calling the performance a tactical and physical masterclass.
- Debate over Lood de Jager’s straight red card continues, with ex-players questioning head-contact consistency and suggesting the sanction was overly severe.
- Erasmus is expected to rest senior players and could hand midfield starts to Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie, with Handré Pollard and Edwill van der Merwe also tipped for involvement.
- Coaches and players warn that Italy, buoyed by a 26-19 win over Australia, will bring a physical, aerially competitive game and pose set-piece and breakdown threats at home.
- The Boks emphasize squad-wide intensity, versatility and bench impact as they build depth on tour before naming the matchday squad on Thursday.