By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: SA Rugby.
The Springboks continued their unbeaten start to the Nations Championship with a 66-7 round four demolition of Italy in Turin on Saturday, 07 November 2026.
They arrived in Europe unbeaten after wins over England, Scotland and Wales at home in July. Those bonus-point victories left them on 15 points, level with New Zealand but ahead on points difference.
South Africa had already built a commanding 45-0 lead by half-time, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx and Siya Kolisi among the try-scorers.
Italy managed a second-half response, but the Springboks remained firmly in control, adding to their tally through Wilco Louw, Paul de Villiers and Ethan Hooker to complete a comprehensive victory.
The Azzurri’s afternoon deteriorated further when loosehead prop Muhamed Hasa was shown a yellow card in the 30th minute for a deliberate knock-on.
Wilco Louw crashed over shortly after half-time before fellow replacement Paul de Villiers finished off another powerful rolling maul.
Italy had little to show for their efforts but finally got on the scoreboard through lock Federico Ruzza in the 61st minute, but the Boks responded with De Villiers’ try and Ethan Hooker adding his name to the scoresheet in the final minute.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted all three second-half scores.
Boks coach Rassie Erasmus said he was happy with the Boks’ discipline: “I think we only conceded one penalty in the first half, and about five penalties and five turnovers in the game, which is pretty disciplined, even though the second half was a little soft.”
Asked what the main contributing factors were to the team’s ability to consistently keep building, Erasmus said: “The biggest thing is that we’ve been together for eight years now, and we’re slowly bringing in guys like Ethan (Hooker), ‘Krappie’ (Morne van den Berg), Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), Ruan (Nortje), Cameron (Hanekom), Jan-Hendrik (Wessels), and Thomas (du Toit) is now back with us too.
“So we’ve been able to bring people in here and there, and when you go to a game like this and pick a team that’s match fit and ready, and everybody is calm and understands the system because we’ve been coaching them for a while, it’s satisfying.”
The Boks face France at the Stade de France in Paris, while Italy host Argentina – beaten 42-12 by Ireland in Dublin less than 24 hours ago.
ITALY – Try: Federico Ruzza. Conversion: Paolo Garbisi.
SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morné van den Berg, Malcolm Marx (2), Siya Kolisi, Damian Willemse, Wilco Louw, Paul de Villiers, Ethan Hooker. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (9). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The story has been update with Rassie Erasmus comment.