SOUTH AFRICA STUTTURED to a 22-6 victory over Italy in Padova, with a last-minute Bryan Habana try putting polish on the scoreboard.
Heyneke Meyer will have been disappointed with the inaccuracies in South Africa’s display, although the Italians deserve much credit for their part in a scrappy fixture, as they repetedly scrambled well in defence to deny the Boks more than three tries.
Five pointers from Habana, Coenie Oosthuizen and Cobus Reinach allowed the visitors to win comfortably in the end, but they will look for far more against Wales next weekend, their final international fixture of 2014.
Italy trailed 8-6 at the interval, with out-half Kelly Haimona having struck a penalty with the last action of the half. The New Zealand native had earlier given Jacques Brunel’s side the lead with an 11th-minute penalty, although that advantage was swiftly removed.
Pat Lambie responded with three points of his own from the tee with 15 minutes on the clock, before tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen scored the opening try of the fixture six minutes later.
The Cheetahs’ man barged over on an intelligent line from close-range following a sustained period of attacking pressure from the Springboks inside the home side’s 22. Despite that 8-3 lead, Meyer’s men failed to build during the remainder of the half.
The Italians proved fiesty, motivated opponents for the powerful South Africans, deservedly drawing themselves back to within two points before the break.
South African frustration continued early in the second half, as their backline again handled the ball poorly as chances continued to be created. Meyer will have been frustrated by the Boks’ lack of ruthlessness at crucial moments in attack.
That said, replacement back row Nizaam Carr did come up with an intelligent assist to release Cobus Reinach for a 58th-minute try, which Handré Pollard converted from under the posts.
The Italians failed to capitalise on several strong surges from the talismanic Parisse in the number eight shirt during the second half, before Habana finished off a rapid counter-attack from the Boks in the final minute to allow Pollard to convert again.
After the game, legendary second row Bakkies Botha announced his retirement from international rugby.