Saturday, November 21, 2009
Springboks finally come right as they beat Italy in Udine
The tour so far has been less than satisfactory, as they've lost to Leicester and Saracens in warm up matches, and France in their first Test. Today they put things right though, as despite Italy's valiant challenge, the South Africans came out on top with a comfortable win in the end.
Wing Bryan Habana, sporting his best Movember moustache for the occasion, scored early on with a nice try in the corner before he turned provider for Jaque Fourie to score under the posts.
Flyhalf Morne Steyn had a rare off day with the boot, but still managed to kick two penalties and converted two of South Africa's four tries.
Italy came back into the game late in the first half as flyhalf Craig Gower set up Gonzalo Garcia for a nice try that split the Bok midfield defence in two.
Italy powered through a number of scrums, but the Springboks moved captain and prop John Smit to hooker, resulting in a far more stable scrum, and the Boks turning things around as they drove through the Italians on a few occasions later in the game.
Scrumhalf Fourie Du Preez finished off an excellent team try in the 53rd minute as South Africa looked totally in charge in the last quarter. Replacement Wynand Olivier then sealed the win in the closing stages with his first Test try.
Time: 06:03
Posted at 5:11 pm | 47 comments
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Viewing 47 comments
Dave November 21, 2009 4:46 pm

Anyway, good game for the Boks. Relief! :P
Some of those tries were excellent though. Finally clicking I hope.
Once again though, great to see such a passionate and strong Italian crowd at the match. :)
BringFSteynback November 21, 2009 5:04 pm

Still looked rusty at times, my 2cents to Div for the irish game:
1) Keep smitty at 2
2) Put Oliver to start(Jacobs was useless and his error handed the italians their try)
BOKKE!!
Anonymous November 21, 2009 5:05 pm

Dave November 21, 2009 5:55 pm

About the game.. Olivier is getting better. I used to find him quite one dimensional but his passing is incredibly pinpoint accurate and he seems to sums things up well. Certainly no worse than Jacobs at the moment.
Kanko played a little better this week too, which is good.
BOKFAN4LIFE November 21, 2009 5:56 pm

GO THE BOKS, SORT IT OUT!!
BOKFAN4LIFE November 21, 2009 6:04 pm

1. Beast
2. Smit
3. BJ
4. Bakkies
5. Matfield
6. Brussouw
7. Deysel
8. Russouw
9. Du Preez
10. Steyn
11. Habana
12. Olivier
13. Fourie
14. Pietersen
15. Kirchner
16. Wian
17. Straus
18. Bekker
19. Kanko
20. Pienaar
21. Hougaard
22. Jacobs
Come on Div - you can do it!
Anonymous November 21, 2009 6:06 pm

Anonymous November 21, 2009 6:09 pm

Anonymous November 21, 2009 6:36 pm

Overall a decent rugby game for the cheering spectators in Udine.
Anonymous November 21, 2009 6:42 pm

Gilbert November 21, 2009 7:24 pm

Anonymous November 21, 2009 7:30 pm

Huh!! the 3rd November 21, 2009 8:10 pm

Interesting that SA also moved the ball about. Well I'm only assuming as all tries came from backs. Hope next week in Croke Park is a cracker and that I get there, waiting on news of a ticket.
Anonymous November 21, 2009 11:04 pm

A frenchman
Anonymous November 21, 2009 11:07 pm

Other than that, not much else to shout about. We started well and then went to sleep...
Anonymous November 21, 2009 11:12 pm

Anonymous November 22, 2009 12:17 am

Anonymous November 22, 2009 1:40 am

I know Danie had a good game, but he's a lock not a flanker.
Adi Jacobs needs to go same with Kankowski.
Nothing wrong with Morne's kicking, it was a different designed ball I heard to commentators say.
Anonymous November 22, 2009 1:52 am

Anonymous November 22, 2009 12:54 pm

Anonymous November 22, 2009 1:12 pm

Anonymous November 22, 2009 1:13 pm

Anonymous November 22, 2009 1:20 pm

And I never like commentators!!
franny1807 November 22, 2009 1:43 pm

Cheesy November 22, 2009 2:15 pm

Anonymous November 22, 2009 2:32 pm

Anonymous November 22, 2009 2:34 pm

Anonymous November 22, 2009 3:03 pm

Jacques November 22, 2009 4:18 pm

Piss off to the Australia Scotland game mate. You guys had chances all night and never took them. We dont want to hear your whinging. Period. Good game. Italy looking better by the year.
durrie November 22, 2009 6:15 pm

BOKFAN4LIFE I like the look of your suggested team for the final game but I would change Rossouw back to 7 and keep Kankowski at 8. Deysel deserves 10-15mins but not a start yet...
C'MON the Boks...!!!
Madflyhalf November 22, 2009 6:51 pm

anyway... Thanks to Jacob (& PdV) for our try!!
Itchy Kawa November 23, 2009 1:28 am

Btw, Bryan Habana has got to have the coolest look in rugby at the moment. Looks like a little Spaniard speedy Gonzales.
Anonymous November 23, 2009 1:40 am

he had to pass over the italian's head, please stop being childish.
Anonymous November 23, 2009 4:46 am

fivel November 23, 2009 6:27 am

I think someone else mentioned it on here - if the Italians had someone who could kick the ball AND deliver it, the score would've been much too close for Bokke comfort.
Even compared to last year - or this year's 6N - the Italians seem to improve 1000% each time. It's crazy. The way they drive those scrums...it's something even a back can get excited about!
When South Africa scored, they seemed to make it look so easy - maybe that's why they've been number 1 this year.
fivel November 23, 2009 6:31 am

I remember at one point, near the SA try line, she was yelling from touch to SA players on how to organize the defensive line. Getting pumped up about rugby? Now that's my kind of lady!
Anonymous November 23, 2009 2:59 pm

There was nothing wrong with the real Boks, bro.
Anonymous November 24, 2009 12:13 pm

Btw it was BJ botha who made the difference to the scrum not beast, although his strength did help...
Anonymous November 24, 2009 1:17 pm

delorean November 24, 2009 6:51 pm

The only thing that I'd say most of us outside of SA (and from it sounds like, even those in SA, too) are confused about is if he can keep playing for the Boks with his current Zimbabwean status.
Greiffel November 24, 2009 7:45 pm

They scored some awesome tries in this match though, so just need to get it together again vs Ireland.















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