US Edition5 Talking Points | SA v Italy: Should Boks Have Been Penalised in Bizarre Kick-Off Ploy?
GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA, JUL 12 – South Africa employed deliberate infringements and innovative maul tactics to secure their 45-0 win, prompting criticism from Italy's coach for perceived disrespect during the Test.
- South Africa defeated Italy 45-0 in Gqeberha at the weekend using a controversial kickoff routine that sparked debate.
- South Africa deliberately conceded a scrum on the first kick by kicking the ball less than 10 metres to set a strategic tone.
- The Springboks used innovative tactics including lineout-style lifts in open play to create mauls, which led directly to tries by Canan Moodie and Malcolm Marx.
- Italy's head coach Gonzalo Quesada voiced his disappointment and surprise, emphasizing that their opponents didn’t have to rely on such tactics to secure a victory.
- The tactics caught global attention with calls for World Rugby to evaluate them, while South Africa prepares to host Georgia in a test on 19 July at Mbombela Stadium.
12 Articles
12 Articles
The Springboks' Test record against Italy
World champions South Africa hosted Italy in a two-Test series this month with matches played in Pretoria and Gqeberha. As widely predicted, the Azzurri proved no match for the Springboks. South Africa have now beaten Italy 17 times and lost once in their 18 Tests to date since first meeting in Rome in 1995, the year the Springboks won the first of a record four Rugby World Cup titles. At the time of publishing, the Springboks sit at No 1 in the…
On Saturday 12 July, during a second test-match organised between South Africa, the reigning world champion and Italy, the Springboks tried to put in place a tactic that did not work, but...
The Springboks and the All Blacks shone with their malice this weekend, but two of their actions should have been sanctioned, according to the rules.
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