Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has signaled his intention to make several changes to his squad for the second Test against Italy, following a mixed performance in their 42-24 victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 5 June, as reported by TimesLIVE.
Despite a dominant first half that saw South Africa lead 28-3, the Boks failed to maintain their intensity after the break, allowing Italy to score three second-half tries. While the win marked a positive start to the international season, Erasmus made it clear that improvements are needed ahead of next weekend’s clash in Gqeberha.
The Springboks crossed the try line six times, with Jesse Kriel, Morne van den Berg (2), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Vincent Koch, and Marco van Staden all touching down. However, Italy’s resilience, particularly their physicality and fitness, concerned Erasmus, who admitted his side should have put the game beyond doubt earlier.
‘Normally, you think a team that makes 120 tackles in the first half would break in the second half,’ Erasmus said. ‘But they are a fit and passionate side. We have to make sure the team we pick this week can go for 80 minutes, not just 50 or 60.’
Rassie revealed that up to 13 or 14 players are in line for opportunities in the second Test, with some newcomers likely to feature in the starting XV or on the bench. Utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is set to return, while scrum-halves Cobus Reinach and Grant.
Injuries remain minimal, though Damian de Allende is nursing a minor hamstring issue. Rassie stressed that no players would be discarded entirely, but the selection approach will be adjusted to ensure a more complete performance.
While disappointed with aspects of the Loftus display, Rassie took solace in the result and the chance to refine his squad. The Gqeberha Test offers an opportunity to experiment while maintaining momentum before tougher challenges later in the season.
‘We will just have to fine-tune now and take stock of injuries,’ he said. ‘There are no serious injuries to report on, it is just niggles.’
First published by: cape {town} etc
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