Summary
It was billed as a potential banana-skin fixture for South Africa - after all, a loss today and they’d be contemplating a Rugby World Cup group-stage exit for the very first time.
But there’s something very impressive about this Rassie Erasmus-led Boks outfit - as Italy discovered today to their detriment.
No nerves, no hesitation. It was a paired-down style of play early on, built from robust defence and keen discipline. Just six penalties (after they conceded nine, and some crucial ones at that, against the All Blacks), some incredible hits, but more than that, a grinding, consistent, controlled malevolence.
The red card to Lovotti killed Italy, but the body blows had already been struck by then. The rolling maul was unstoppable, the lineout unflappable, and the work at the breakdown was not too shabby either.
Knockout stage opponents will look nervously at the permutations that lie ahead now. This is a team you want to avoid - not just because they might beat you - but because even if they don’t, they’ll put you through the absolute wringer (and your next opponents then might).
The Japan 2019 dream is over for Italy, but for South Africa it may yet just be taking form.
And it’s a big triple-header of rugby action from the Japan World Cup tomorrow.
We start with Australia playing host to Uruguay for entree, then it’s the very tasty main course of England v Argentina, with a Japan-Samoa clash for pudding. Suit you, sir.
He’s famous for his mind games, but Eddie Jones reckons he hasn’t been in Nigel Owens’ ear before England’s key clash. Here’s the latest from Gerrard Meagher:
While Paul Rees takes a detailed look at the high-flying host nation - on an unprecedented four-consecutive-World-Cup-wins:
So, if you’re just joining us now (long lie in in Italy?) here’s the executive summary:
And here’s how the overall tournament top scorers list looks:
What a tournament for hookers this is turning into - first a double for Tolu Latu, now it’s Bongi Mbonambi showing the wingers how to do it.
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For Rassie Erasmus, he’d be delighted with what he saw from his chargers. He said pre-game he didn’t need to overanalyse the performance - he just wanted the result.
Well he got both. A thumping result, and a pretty decent performance as well.
Yes, there were some handling concerns in the first half. From the set piece the backline look nowhere near as fluent as it should have been. It was far from a flawless showing from the Boks. But if you’re crystal-balling ahead to the knockout stages this is a side anyone would want to avoid, if they’re in this kind of form. Unflinching, unswerving from their responsibilities. A team very much on the front foot.
For Conor O’Shea and his coaching staff, they’d be pulling their hair out (if any was to hand) after no doubt weeks and months of planning, nights spent tossing and turning, and countless idle hours coming up with winning schemes.
That couldn’t have gone much worse for the Italians. It started with the loss of prop Simone Ferrari - inside a minute - with a suspected hamstring tear. His replacement succumbed to concussion after a nasty bump on the noggin inside just 18 minutes.
And then, just minutes back onto the pitch after a bruising first half, a third prop - Andrea Lovotti, saw red. A justified sanction at a World Cup where repeatedly we’ve heard that protection of the head must be paramount. And he and Quaglio then dumped the unfortunate Vermeulen right on his.
So - let’s take a look at the tables with that result included:
With a massive points differential and a second bonus point secured, South Africa leapfrog Italy into top spot in Pool B - albeit with the All Blacks still with a game to play.
Let’s be very clear though - any talk of the Springboks missing a quarter-finals berth, for the first time at a Rugby World Cup, can be well and truly put to bed.
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Full-time: South Africa 49-3 Italy
And there it is! As dominant a performance as you’ll see against a tier one nation at this World Cup.
We wondered how they were feeling after that narrow loss to the All Blacks, and tonight South Africa well and truly fired a warning shot across the bows of world rugby.
Ferocious, ruthless, imperious. What a showing from the Springboks.
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Try! South Africa 49-3 Italy (Marx)
80 min: They play past the gong, the Boks. And why not when you’re in this mood. And it’s the veteran, who crashes over after another truly dominant rolling maul from the Boks.
They showed us that early in the piece, and then tucked it away for a while. But what a fitting way to finish this match!
No extras from Pollard. We must have hurt his feelings.
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78 min: Concern late on for South African fans - it’s Kolbe off on another of his mazy runs, but he appears to have pulled up lame. A big worry if that will affect his place later on in the tournament - what a game he’s had today, the diminutive winger.
Try! South Africa 44-3 Italy (Snyman)
76 min: They pressing for a baker’s round 50 (don’t @ me), the Boks. They were unrelenting in their pressure first half, and now they’re making hay and enjoying themselves.
The fullback Minozzi got himself in a real mess after great defensive pressure from Kolbe, and it was easy as you’d like for Snyman to open his account.
Pollard. He’s missed. What’s going on? Real black mark, this.
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73 min: It’s South Africa, unsurprisingly on the attack once again, and Mapimpi, having just opened his account for the match is suddenly lurking like a vulture for a second.
He’s denied metres short of the line, but it feels very much just a matter of time before Gli Azzurri’s (did I get that one right?) line is breached once more.
70 min: It’s dejection all round in the Italian coaching boxes. Conor O’Shea called for a Herculean effort from his chargers, but about now thoughts start turning to damage control, and ensuring they have something left for the clash with the All Blacks.
They’ve never beaten New Zealand, Italy. That’s now what they have to do to stay alive.
Try! South Africa 39-3 Italy (Mapimpi)
67 min: And lest anybody feel they’re missing out, after the Kolbe show (in flashes) we’ve got a try for South Africa’s other winger. Mapimpi helps himself to one, and it’s well and truly time to call the vet in. It was a chip down the middle, and the winger strolls in easily, under the posts.
Pollard strikes the conversion, two more points.
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65 min: So after the war of attrition that we’ve seen, no surprises that both sides have almost entirely emptied their benches. Plenty of fresh players on in both green and blue.
A close up of a dejected Sergio Parisse on the Italy bench. His side has been clattered, and the veteran hangs his head - knowing that the World Cup miraculous is now beyond them.
An Italian lesson on the run for yours truly. Too much time covering Barbara Bonansea and her pals at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, clearly.
@rrjparkin Surely it's GLI Azzurri? Azzurro is masculine singular. Azzurri, masculine plural. "Le" is the feminine plural.
— St ev eR os e (@TorinoSteve) October 4, 2019
Apologies to Azzurri fans of either gender, plural or singular. That’s what happens when I try fancy things.
Back to haddock and chips, me.
60 min: So. The last time these two sides met it finished 35-6 in Padua. This one looks like it might get a little nastier than that.
But before you despair, Azzurri fans, remember that just over 20 years ago in Durban it finished 101-0.
Even with their tails up, I can’t see the Boks putting on 15 tries today.
Try! South Africa 32-3 Italy (Am)
57 min: Cometh the hour, cometh off the wheels. They’re done now, Italy. Am with an acre of space to run into - these boys are hard to stop with fifteen out there, let alone 14.
A big turnover from Italy, as a forced pass fell nicely into the arms of the flying outside centre. And he’s cantered home from 40m out.
Pollard back on the money, with the conversion attempt.
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55 min: They’re on the attack again, South Africa - this could get nasty.
Le Roux flicks a lofted pass to Am, but the Italian scrambling defence covers well. The ball falls to ground - is there a chance to counter attack? No! It’s Kolbe, who bundles his opponent into touch!
Try! South Africa 25-3 Italy (Kolbe)
52 min: And here it comes! The man advantage is going to be exploited at some stage, and he’s in for a double, Kolbe. The smallest man on the field, but with the fastest feet, you’d warrant. Pollard looks for him with the crossfield kick, and he claims it nicely.
And remarkably - turns out he is human - Pollard’s missed one! A tricky touchline special, but meat and drink for this guy.
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Penalty! South Africa 20-3 Italy
50 min: Pollard. Three points. And those are the first of the half. Remarkably.
What a test of character this will now be for the Italians. They’ve been battered for 50-odd minutes, now they have to chase a 17-point deficit, with 14 men.
49 min: A string of infringements - Italian hands everywhere, and we have a chance for Pollard to aim at the sticks. Benefit of the doubt says desperation, but gee.
47 min: It’s the box kick from Tebaldi and Parisse almost regains, but they counter attack quickly the Boks. Oh my! But with Le Roux flying down the wing, he puts it on the toe - but scuffs it straight into touch! He looks embarrassed the fullback - he’s duffed that.
46 min: Italy with some sustained possession, but largely going side to side. And the Boks are able to clear their line. Italian lineout feed just inside South Africa’s half.
44 min: No try! It was “Two metre Pieter” who crashed over - and it looked like Italy’s game was going to instantly head south, but the try has been chalked out for obstruction in the lead up. Good spot, refereeing team.
No floodgates opening - just yet.
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43 min: A minute of madness for Le Azzurri - they had made a terrific break, had South Africa scrambling, but in a flash of bad temper, they’ve lost a third prop of the game - two from injury, one from insult. Silly, silly business.
Red card! (Lovotti)
42 min: It’s a big bust by Steyn for Italy! He looks for the support runner, Tebaldi is there but he’s swamped by covering defence. They’re eventually pulled down and we halt for a penalty.
There’s another dodgy cleanout from the Italians, and Vermeulen remains injured.
Ay, ay, ay. It’s a very nasty tip tackle from Lovotti and Quaglio - and it’s a red card!
Not the start the Italians would have wanted.
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Second half!
No rest for the wicked, and we’re back. Pollard gets us going and the South African tackling ferocity continues. A five-man lineout this time from the Boks, but again their backline move doesn’t work, as they cough up another easy turnover.
“I haven’t seen anyone bash anyone like this all World Cup”.
That’s the half-time assessment from the antipodean commentary crew I happen to be watching - is that your read as well?
And from an Italian perspective then, how do you counter this?
So. Your reflections on that opening 40? And is there any way back for the Italians?
It felt tough, unrelenting, and extremely physical - even despite the lack of scrums.
I have to admit, I don’t think I’ve seen a team lose two tight-head props inside twenty minutes in a game of rugby before. Anyone? Classic tales from yore?
Half-time: South Africa 17-3 Italy
39 min: They build the phases, the Boks, but they’ve conceded a penalty, as the skipper arrives late to a clean out. Italy clear their lines, to huge relief.
And there’s the gong. South Africa will be pretty happy with that showing - they’ve hammered their opponents, unrelentingly.
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37 min: South Africa play to the backs this time, but its du Toit who pops up in the line, and pops up the ball! Can’t blame the backs for that one.
Kicking error for Italy - as they kick into touch after a pass back into the 22m. South Africa with a big chance to really hurt their opponents on the scoreboard, just before half time.
35 min: It’s another stoinking rolling maul from the Boks, gaining 10-15m at a canter, and it earns another penalty as Mbonambi is caught slightly high.
34 min: It’s against the winger Benvenuti for cleaning out illegally - he did appear to grab a South African player around the head. Clear penalty - a fifth against the Italians already.
32 min: The crowd comes alive (at least the Italian quotient of it). Again, it’s a big mean green wall that greets them. This has been ferocious tackling from South Africa.
The fullback Minozzi tries to get around his tackler, but runs out of territory. Italy recycle, but we stop for a TMO. Was there a high tackle?
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30 min: We set for another rugby league scrum, and South Africa clear their lines with the kick. Again, not huge distance, so a small glimmer of hope for Italy to build something here?
Penalty to Italy for a tackle on Budd in the air. Now they’re definitely a sniff.
28 min: So, Riccioni is officially not coming back - Italy have lost both tight-head props for the match, and we will have uncontested scrums for the remainder of the match.
Look for mauls to become big then. Some of these big front rowers will be steaming at being robbed like this.
Try! South Africa 17-3 Italy (Mbonambi)
26 min: That was one heck of a driving maul. It was as if the South African forwards, fresh from a lack of scrum contestations decided to burn off some extra energy - they push Le Azzurri 10-15m back and the big hooker glimpses an opening and dives over!
Pollard - no mistake (duh) from the conversion.
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25 min: Ach! They spread wide and Kolbe throws a stinging pass; but Le Roux grasses it! We come back for another penalty though - they might be edging towards yellow card danger, the Italians.
24 min: The South Africans cheer again, another turnover at the ruck. They haven’t exactly been on the back foot, but that did feel like perhap’s Italy’s best attacking patch of the game.
Now what can the Boks muster - lineout feed, halfway.
22 min: Big turnover! Great work Vermeulen, and they hold up Polledri and it doesn’t come out. Another scrum.
Thumping kick for clearance, they take 50m and we’re back on half way.
21 min: Some one-out runs - yikes, some of these hits are bone-shuddering. Parisse pops a pass off the shoulder but his runner is absolutely crunched, and we’ve got a ball down.
Meanwhile Tebaldi is down with a suspected dislocated finger. Gee it’s rugged out there so far.
It’s an Italian scrum feed (uncontested) once again - was there a South African hand in that? I didn’t spot it, but presumably so.
20 min: It’s been a bruising first twenty, as you’d expect given the weight of this Boks pack, but the Italians have done well to give as good as they’ve got so far.
Well done, Budd who earns his side a scrum, as Hollard spills the ball after an ankle tap. Uncontested - so let’s see what they can set up from here, Italy.
18 min: Hmm. Riccioni has gone off for a HIA (was there a head knock somewhere?) - so referee Barnes has called “uncontested scrums” for the next 10 minutes, given Italy are out of tight-head props already!
Wild. You don’t see that every day. South Africa look a little bemused. Has that neutralised one of their weapons?
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17 min: Italy look to build some phases before firing a box kick. But they don’t get much distance. South Africa return the favour, but the kick is too long for the chasers, and Italy bring out without too much danger.
They have it again around halfway, before Tebaldi finds a well-weighted kick to the corner. Kolbe returns fire, but the metres go the way of Italy, as does the lineout feed.
16 min: Ach. Opportunity botched. The Boks win their offensive lineout but De Klerk faffs it and fumbles a knock on.
Scrum, Italian feed.
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14 min: Riiccioni continues, for now. The Boks win their lineout, around half way, and look to drive a rolling maul. Italy just manage to slow it, before South Africa fire a long pass out to Mapimpi, but we come back for a penalty for coming in from the side. A sloppy one to concede.
13 min: It’s the up-and-under from De Klerk, and it’s into touch for a South African feed with a touch from Italy en route.
Oh my. Marco Riccioni - the man who came on as a replacement prop for the injured Ferrari - is down with a suspected rib injury.
Who in the Italian camp walked under a ladder, with a black cat, a broken mirror, and didn’t throw salt over their left shoulder? Awful luck.
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Penalty! South Africa 10-3 Italy
No mistake from Pollard. Why do I feel like I’ll just be writing that a lot today, already. He really is a terrific kicker. What the Wallabies (or All Blacks) wouldn’t give for a man like that.
We’re back to a converted try difference.
10 min: South Africa on the attack once again - they’re hunting and probing under a penalty advantage. They can’t find the corner this time, through Kolbe, so they return about 10m out. Slightly high on du Toit from Allan. Hard to do when he’s over 2m, but there you go.
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Penalty! South Africa 7-3 Italy
Lovely strike from Tommaso Allan. It’s not the most straightforward conditions out there - a little breeze, and he needed to hit it cleanly.
A good nerve settler, they’re on the board, Italy.
7 min: Italy with some good sustained possession now - and they’ve drawn the penalty as Mbonambi fails to roll away. Tough that - it was a fine tackle, but he did appear to get himself pinned the South African.
Try! South Africa 7-0 Italy (Kolbe)
5 min: Yes they do! It’s the fast feet from Kolbe, who beats his marker well to break past one man in blue and stretches out over the line, just inside the corner post.
No mistake from Pollard from the touchline, extras added.
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4 min: South Africa on the attack and they look to spread the play wide - have they got the territory? There was a bunch of hard running up the centre to create the chance.
2 min: Double knock-on as heavy contacts fly round everywhere.
Real concern for the Italian prop, Simoni Ferrari - he may have done a hamstring here. Awful blow, so early in the match.
Kick off!
1 min: It’s England’s Wayne Barnes with the whistle, and he says “fill your boots lads”, and Italy duly oblige.
South Africa clear their lines but there’s a marginal knock on during a contested ball, and we settle for a first scrum of the contest.
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There’s the anthems - impeccably observed and sung with gusto, as has become the trend at this World Cup.
Both sides looking suitably amped for this. Here. We. Go!
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Our players are heading out onto the field, to be met with another spectacular crowd alongside these terrific Japanese drummers.
Anthems to come, but a quick line from Robin Hazlehurst who points out another way Italy could progress:
If typhoons hit today and for the match against NZ so that both are abandoned and called draws, Italy will progress - any Italian fans hoping the apocalypse strikes in the next ten minutes so that they will be preserved forever like Pompeii?
Good point, I did miss that scenario!
NJK BAD (sinister?) has written in too:
It would make this a perfect Murphy’s Law Irish World Cup to see Italy get through in second place to face the group winning Japanese whilst we’re being pasted all over the park by the All Blacks.
Look. We don’t want to overplay the whole “anything can happen at a World Cup” angle, but, you know..
So - where it will be won and loss? Who will be the X-factors?
Sergio Parisse - Italy’s talismanic skipper is back, and goes past Brian O’Driscoll on the list of all-time cap winners; just the great Richie McCaw sits above him. He was named as one of Guardian’s three players to watch pre-tournament for Italy.
And for South Africa, all the chat is about their explosive winger, Cheslin Kolbe, but with height (and weight) in the forwards likely to be a factor today, I fancy “Two metre Pieter” to have a fair impact today. Alongside the metronomic kicking of Handré Pollard, there’s plenty of areas the Boks can win it. But is there any chance they could contrive, psychologically to lose it?
A fun permutation of today - people are saying if Italy win, they’re through (and conversely South Africa miss their first quarter-finals berth in World Cup history).
BUT - Italy can also draw the match; and if provided they pick up a bonus point and South Africa don’t, they can still sneak through, irrespective of how things play out against NZ in their final group game.
Imagine.
Without further ado, to team news:
10 changes for South Africa from the Namibia game - no surprises there, given fixture congestion many sides have shuffled their packs to little complaint (cough, Fiji).
South Africa: (15-1)
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (c), 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Rudolph Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn.
While it’s a similar return to full-strength for the Italians.
Italy: (15-1)
15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 Michele Campagnaro, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Jake Polledri, 6 Braam Steyn, 5 Dean Budd, 4 David Sisi, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Andrea Lovotti.
Bench: 16 Federico Zani, 17 Nicola Quaglio, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Sebastian Negri, 22 Callum Braley, 23 Carlo Canna.
But - back to Pool B and our “Day of Reckoning” clash.
Your thoughts and predictions ahead of this one? Any bold as brass calls from confident Azzurri fans? Any nerves from dubious Boks supporters?
As always, Guardian’s play-by-play coverage is a train that picks up all passengers - fire us an email or tweet to join in festivities today.
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And of course for our northern hemisphere readers on England-watch, here’s Rob Kitson, running the rule over the latest out of camp ahead of a crunch-clash with Argentina:
And if Tom Curry isn’t a name known around the world of rugby, here’s a nice little profile from Gerard Meagher:
So plenty to sink your teeth into while we await kickoff in Shizuoka today.
Hi all! Salutations to thee and thine, from whatever far flung corner of the globe you’re following our coverage today.
Its been a cracking effort from some of our writers over in Japan, scurrying round endless stadium catacombs and no doubt quaffing endless sub-standard feeds-on-the-run to bring you the latest.
I love this column from Paul Rees on the state of refereeing inconsistencies across the tournament - “reffing hell” seems to capture the mood brilliantly:
Preamble
It’s Pool B’s day of reckoning. With shock results in Pools A and D (and a near miss in Pool C), it’s time for some competitive drama to visit upon the hitherto most unevenly matched pool.
Group leaders Italy have had it relatively easy thus far - Namibia and Canada weren’t exactly cakewalks, but there will be a notable step up in intensity for their game against a South Africa no-doubt still smarting from it’s narrow opening round loss to New Zealand.
The Springboks have never failed to reach the World Cup quarter finals. Could that day be today? Despite their vast tier-one experience from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship respectively, these two nations haven’t played a lot against each other, and never at a World Cup. The Boks boast a 13-1 overall record, but tellingly that one loss came just two clashes ago, in 2016. And as Wales showed Australia, sometimes mismatched records are there to be broken.
South Africa should shade it across the park - up front, in the backline, in goal kicking, at set piece. Still, write Italy off at your peril.
A key clash for determining who goes through to the knockouts - so get the kettle on and your to-do lists cleared.
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