Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says the Boks will treat Italy with the same respect they reserve for any heavyweight opponent when the teams collide in Torino on Saturday.
“It’s a tough week because we are facing a team that comes off a good game against Australia,” Stick said ahead of the 14:40 (SA time) kick-off at Allianz Stadium. “A few other players are getting an opportunity to play, and that motivates us immensely.”
The #Springboks are ready for what promises to be a very tough Test against Italy in Turin tomorrow – more here: https://t.co/BpjMhT7a9d 🇮🇹#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/9xSWrHULoP
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 14, 2025
Stick said the fresh combinations are driven by more than selection talk:
“The players have been working very hard and waiting for their opportunity, such as Handré (Pollard) and Canan (Moodie). Whoever gets a chance to represent the country, it’s not just about playing for yourself, but close to 60 million South Africans at home. This Test is a massive game for us.”
He dismissed claims that the matchday squad looks experimental.
“There’s no such thing as a trial match when it comes to the Springboks. We need to respect the players who are receiving an opportunity to play. We all know Italy are in a good space and improving week in and week out.
“In Pretoria, they posed big challenges in the second half, so they are a side you can never underestimate.”
Kolisi: Breakdown will decide it
Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi, set for Test No.101, expects the breakdown to be the main battlefield.
“It’s been one of the big areas we looked at this week,” Kolisi said.
“We struggled in the first match against them back home, and that was one of the main reasons we had to work so hard to win that match.
“We know how good they are there, so we’ve worked hard this week to ensure we look after the ball properly. The pack will be important this weekend.”
Kolisi also shrugged off concerns around cohesion with the new-look tight five:
“We’ve done the work on the field during the week. The coaches have been crucial. The senior guys obviously need to lead by example, but we feel good as a group in general.”
Van Staden’s hooker role “years in the making”
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Rassie rings the changes as Springboks shift gears for Italian Test
Stick confirmed that Marco van Staden’s shift to reserve hooker is no gamble.
“It was always the plan for him to be a backup hooker,” he said.
“At the 2023 World Cup, he was always training and working on extra skills to be ready when the opportunity arose. It’s a project we’ve been working on for the last few years.”
Stick believes Van Staden’s physicality will be crucial:
“He’s a tough guy who always plays with his heart on his sleeve, and he’s a breakdown specialist, which will be valuable against a side like Italy.”
Italian backs a real threat
Your #Springboks team to face Italy in Turin tomorrow afternoon 💚💛
Watch it live on @SSRugby 🎥#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/sI9txy69S3— Springboks (@Springboks) November 14, 2025
Stick also warned that Italy’s slick backline could punish even the slightest lapse.
“If you look at the Italian centres, they are probably one of the best centre partnerships in the country at the moment,” he said. “They are also playing really well, so it’s going to be a tough game with ball in hand.
“If you give the Italian players time and space, their backline players will punish you.”
Teams:
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex (captain), 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Ross Vintcent, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 David Odiase, 22 Martin Page-Relo, 23 Tommaso Allan.
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Ethan Hooker, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Gerhard Steenekamp, 17 Wilco Louw, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.
Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
Kick-off: 13.40 (14.40 SAST; 12.40 GMT)
Expected weather: There will be some drizzle and light winds with a temperature around 14°C
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Jérémy Rozier (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
