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11/15/25 12:39:00
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11/15 12:37 CST South Africa's resilience shines as red card absorbed in win
over Italy in Turin
South Africa's resilience shines as red card absorbed in win over Italy in Turin
TURIN, Italy (AP) --- South Africa absorbed a red card for a second straight
test and prevailed again in beating Italy 32-14 at the Juventus Stadium on
Saturday.
The Springboks played a man short for almost 70 minutes after lock Franco
Mostert was sent off, but showed the adaptability and resilience that helped
them beat France in Paris with 14 men a week ago.
The Boks bench was reliably impactful as they led Italy by only six points with
eight minutes to go, and secured the win with a try by replacement Grant
Williams from a counterattack inside their own half.
They capped a stylish finish moments later when Ethan Hooker, a midfielder
moved to the wing, scored his first test try from a kick-pass by replacement
Manie Libbok.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said they always plan for red cards but "it
doesn't make it easy for us. We can talk about sacrifices but seeing a guy like
Franco sitting there (on the sideline), we could see the hurt in his eyes.
"That said, I really love the way this team is just able to stand up and fight.
We always say whatever happens between those four lines we can still go as hard
as we can and control what we can."
Italy flyhalf Paolo Garbisi received the red-card foul but crucially missed
three of his six goal kicks, just a week after he was 100% off the tee in a win
over Australia.
South Africa made 11 changes after the France win and fielded an experimental
side, but the plans evaporated in the 12th minute when Mostert was issued a
permanent red card for his no-arms, shoulder-led high tackle on Garbisi.
"The red card for Mostert was probably excessive," Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada
said. "When they got the red card I was frustrated; I imagined South Africa's
reaction and that even greater discipline would be needed on our part. But the
key was not putting points on the scoreboard when we should have in order to
try to win the match."
For the second straight test, a Springbok lock was sent off. Lood de Jager was
marched for a similar tackle against France just before halftime and South
Africa prevailed by playing tighter and squeezing the French.
They did the same to Italy.
Coach Rassie Erasmus gradually pulled off test novices Ben-Jason Dixon, Zachary
Porthen, Boan Venter and Edwill van der Merwe, replacing them with experienced
bomb squaders Ruan Nortje, Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp and hybrid
forward/back Andre Esterhuizen.
Ten phases led to a penalty by Handre Pollard in his first test in two months.
His value was highlighted by counterpart Garbisi, who missed his first two
penalties but was third time lucky to level the score.
Right on halftime, South Africa tapped a penalty, No. 8 Marco van Staden
crashed over and Pollard's extras gave them a 10-3 lead into the break.
Two more Garbisi penalties lifted Italy to within one with a two-man advantage
after Van Staden was sin-binned.
But the advantage was brief. Italy No. 8 Lorenzo Cannone was sin-binned and
Pollard's third goalkick made it 13-9.
On the hour, the Springboks gambled again. They waived a penalty kick in front
of the posts for a scrum, tighthead Louw twisted it, and scrumhalf Morne van
den Berg darted over.
Italy renewed hope five minutes later when Ange Capuozzo scored off a Garbisi
inside ball but Garbisi missed the conversion to groans from the home crowd.
The Springboks didn't waste their chances and finished with superb tries by
Williams and Hooker. Libbok ruined South Africa's perfect goalkicking record
when he timed out on the last conversion.
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
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