SA
No.Name
15Willie Le Roux, -
14Cheslin Kolbe, -
T
2
13Lukhanyo Am, -
T
12Damian de Allende, -
11Makazole Mapimpi, -
T
10Handre Pollard, -
4
2
9Faf de Klerk, -
1Tendai Mtawarira, -
2Bongi Mbonambi, -
T
3Frans Malherbe, -
4Eben Etzebeth, -
5Lood de Jager, -
6Siya Kolisi, -
7Pieter-Steph du Toit, -
8Duane Vermeulen, -
Replacements
16Malcolm Marx, -
T
17Steven Kitshoff, -
18Vincent Koch, -
19RG Snyman, -
T
20Franco Mostert, -
21Francois Louw, -
22Herschel Jantjies, -
23Frans Steyn, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa
10:45 AM, October 4, 2019
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

83'Final comments from Sam Bruce in Shizuoka: "The Springboks are all but through to the quarterfinals once more, but their 49-3 victory over Italy wasn't anything to get too excited about. They scored four tries after Andrea Levotti's dismissal for one of the dumbest things on a rugby field you're ever likely to see, but none came with the ease of attacking fluidity they should have. Instead, they were from Italian mistakes or intercepts, leaving coach Rassie Erasmus with some work to do ahead of the knockout phase. While Handre Pollard laid on two tries for Cheslin Kolbe with cross-kicks, the No. 10 was well below his best. The Boks do have physical aggression in spades, which they demonstrated in the first half, but there is still attacking polish to be laid if a third Webb Ellis Cup is to be a genuine possibility."
83'Pollard pushes the kick wide, and that's fulltime.
82'Malcolm Marx touches down after a lineout drive from a 5m lineout. The pack crossed the line at pace, and Handre Pollard now has a conversion to bring up 50 points.
81'+249-3 Try - Malcolm Marx , South Africa
81'+349-3 End of second half
80'South Africa attack under penalty advantage but Willie le Roux's diagonal running once again limits the space for Makazole Mapimpi, meaning the cover defence can easily stop the winger.
78'Tremendous run from Cheslin Kolbe after pulling down an intercept and stepping past Jayden Hayward in midfield. Excellent covering defence from Callum Braley prevents Kolbe from passing back inside to Pieter-Steph du Toit and then pulls down the winger. Kolbe limps off with an ankle injury.
76'South Africa win the linout through Franco Mostert. Damien de Allende puts through an aimless grubber but Cheslin Kolbe stops Matteo Minozzi as the fullback tries to run the ball. The Italian throws the ball to ground back inside and R.G. Snyman picks it up gratefully to score his first Test try. Greta hands from the second row.
76'44-3 Try - RG Snyman , South Africa
74'Huge run and bump fron Frans Steyn at first receiver from an uncontested scrum, but the move comes to an end when Herschel Jantjies' pass goes straight into touch and spears touch judge Romain Poite.
71'South Africa spoil an opportunity for Makazole Mapimpi to score again, as the attack from a lineout drive on the right sees Willie le Roux running diagonally and hence leaving his winger short of space.
70'
69'Player substituted - Tommaso Benvenuti , Italy
69'Substitute on - Carlo Canna , Italy
69'Player substituted - Lukhanyo Am , South Africa
69'Substitute on - Frans Steyn , South Africa
69'39-3 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
68'37-3 Try - Makazole Mapimpi , South Africa
67'Makazole Mapimpi scores after collecting a delightful chip kick into space from Willie le Roux, the winger collecting the ball after a favourable bounce and outstripping Matteo Minozzi. Excellent try.
65'South Africa producing incredibly offensive defence, and Italy are unable to cope' they're being driven backwards in every contact and the Springboks hence are going forwards without actually having the ball.
65'Player substituted - Duane Vermeulen , South Africa
65'Substitute on - Francois Louw , South Africa
62'The game has become incredibly loose and unstructured. South Africa still dominating, and still playing the game deep in Italian territory, but they could do with re-establishing their powerful ball running. Too many box kicks resulting in little knock-ons in contact, and pressure not being maintained.
61'Substitute on - Herschel Jantjies , South Africa
61'Player substituted - Faf de Klerk , South Africa
60'South Africa now have complete scoreboard dominance, and they are playing with a little more confidence knowing they have all but secured progression to the quarterfinals as it's inconceivable that they'll lose their final pool match against Canada.
60'Substitute on - Sebastian Negri , Italy
60'Player substituted - Sergio Parisse , Italy
60'Substitute on - Callum Braley , Italy
60'Player substituted - Tito Tebaldi , Italy
60'Substitute on - Franco Mostert , South Africa
60'Player substituted - Lood de Jager , South Africa
60'32-3 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
58'Lukhanyo Am scores an easy try after intercepting an Italian pass.
58'30-3 Try - Lukhanyo Am , South Africa
57'South Africa bomb another opportunity after Willie le Roux puts Lukhanyo Am into space on the right wing. Le Roux collects the return ball, but not cleanly, and he misses the chance while Pieter-Steph du Toit's ball goes to hand.
57'Substitute on - Federico Zani , Italy
57'Player substituted - Luca Morisi , Italy
55'Poor clearing kick from Tommaso Benvenuti gifts South Africa an opportunity to attack from midfield, and Willie le Roux puts Lukhanyo Am into space on the right wing but the chance comes to nothing as the centre's pass back inside goes to ground.
54'Player substituted - Frans Steyn , South Africa
54'Substitute on - Makazole Mapimpi , South Africa
54'Player substituted - Eben Etzebeth , South Africa
54'Substitute on - RG Snyman , South Africa
53'Chesline Kolbe touches down for the second time, after great work from the team, first to move the ball left and then to go back right where Handre Pollard's kick-pass finds the winger -- albeit that South Africa were fortunate with the bounce of the ball. Worth noting that Kolbe launched the attack also after beating Sergio Parisse in the air. Credit also to Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am for their work when the attack went left.
53'25-3 Try - Cheslin Kolbe , South Africa
51'20-3 Penalty goal - Handre Pollard , South Africa
51'Substitute on - Malcolm Marx , South Africa
51'Player substituted - Bongi Mbonambi , South Africa
48'Italy doing anything they can to disrupt the Boks, and Tito Tebaldi penalised at the breakdown. Springboks elects to go for points rather than the corner just to get the scoreboard moving again.
47'Willie le Roux in microcosm there as South Africa counterattack after a scrappy spell of play. The fullback breaks into space and has but one man to beat only for his chip kick to slew off the side of his boot into touch.
46'Substitute on - Federico Ruzza , Italy
46'Player substituted - David Sisi , Italy
46'Substitute on - Alessandro Zanni , Italy
46'Player substituted - Dean Budd , Italy
46'Substitute on - Steven Kitshoff , South Africa
46'Player substituted - Tendai Mtawarira , South Africa
46'Player substituted - Frans Malherbe , South Africa
46'Substitute on - Vincent Koch , South Africa
44'Pieter-Steph du Toit crosses, after Willie le Roux had collected a box kick from Faf de Klerk. Good broken-field running from Handre Pollard, who put du Toit into space, but Siya Kolisi is penalised for obstruction. Kolisi can have no complaints.
43'Andrea Lovotti can have few complaints with that decision.

43'Player substituted - Makazole Mapimpi , South Africa
43'Substitute on - Frans Steyn , South Africa
43'Red card - Andrea Lovotti , Italy
42'Italian players in trouble now after Duane Vermeulen was picked up in a tackle and dumped on his head.
41'Italy firmly on the offensive after a huge midfield bust from Braam Steyn. Loose forward fed Tito Tebaldi inside Boks' 22, and the scrumhalf got the ball to support runners. Scrum-half snipes again, but South Africa do well to slow and stop the ball.
41'Tommaso Allan does really well to clear lines from his own in-goal area after strong work from South Africa had stopped Italy returning the kick-off beyond the 22.
41'We're back under way with Handre Pollard restarting for South Africa. The Springboks have one hand on the victory they need to all but secure progression to the quarterfinals, but they'll be hoping for a little more reward for their territorial and physical dominance in the second half.
41'17-3 End of first half
40'Halftime analysis from Sam Bruce at Shizuoka Stadium:

"The Springboks are in control at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa at halftime here tonight, not that they will be overly thrilled with their first-half effort. The defence, certainly, has been superb, particularly its aggressive and physical nature, but the Boks have lacked accuracy in attack and have just the two tries to show for their efforts so far. We also have uncontested scrums due to two injuries in the Italian front-row, which has certainly negated any dominance South Africa looked to have there. When they get front-foot ball they look dangerous, but too often is it being coughed up through the forwards or lacking accurate passing through the backline."
40'The drum sounds, and South Africa are content just to kick the ball into touch. That's halftime.
40'17-3 Start of second half
38'Italy do well to stop the drive, and then to slow the Boks' ball at the breakdown, before Siya Kolisi is penalised for another cleanout.
37'Tommaso Benvenuti kicks directly into touch despite the warnings from Wayne Barnes that the ball had been taken back inside the Italian 22, and South Africa have a lineout, and another opportunity to drive, 15m from the tryline.
35'Huge driving maul from the Springboks from a lineout, the pack making maybe 25 metres at pace. Tremendously impressive work from the forwards, and the Italians have no answers to anything from South Africa. Springboks are too powerful and too efficient in all facets of the game, while their players are also working much harder than their counterparts -- with and without the ball.
34'Italy keep the ball for 14 phases, but it's all stop-start and unstructured, with South Africa dominating the collisions, and they go backwards and eventually lose position and possession after Tommaso Benvenuti is penalised for a neckroll.
32'Lood de Jager concedes a penalty after connecting the Italian lineout jumper in the air, and we're back inside the South African 22 after Tommaso Allan kicked for the corner once again.
31'Marco Riccioni will not be coming back, hence we have uncontested scrums for the remainder of the game. That's a major disadvantage for South Africa, as the set-piece really is a cornerstone of their power game.
29'Tommaso Allan kicks for the corner after South Africa offside at a breakdown, and that's a reflection of the scoreboard pressure on Italy. They simply must be the next team to score, but South Africa win a penalty at the ensuing lineout drive.
28'17-3 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
27'Scoreboard begins to reflect the possession, territory and dominance of the Springboks, who have been thoroughly in control of the game despite a couple of minutes of Italian pressure.
27'Mbongeni Mbonambi crosses for a try from another strong drive by the forwards.
27'15-3 Try - Bongi Mbonambi , South Africa
24'Brilliant work from South Africa with a strong lineout drive, and they spin the pill wide where Willie le Roux is unable to haul in a poor pass from Cheslin Kolbe with the line beckoning.
23'Further great work from Duane Vermeulen on the ground to win a penalty, and Handre Pollard roosts the ball back inside the Italian 22.
22'Excellent defence from South Africa, winning a free-kick after holding up an Italian maul. Jake Polledri did well in the attack to beat two defenders stepping back inside, but Italy looked a little limited there with ball in hand.
21'Lukhanyo Am knocks on trying to go for a little pop pass from Sergio Parisse, and Italy are able to maintain the pressure. Defiant scrambling defence from South Africa as Italy start to come back into the game after their slow start.
20'Italy create phases but combination of strong defence and loose passes see them go backwards towards halfway. Errors from Lukhanyo Am and Handre Pollard, who loses the ball in a tap tackle while carrying with one hand, mean Italy have a scrum midfield inside the Boks' 22.
19'Substitute on - Nicola Quaglio , Italy
19'Player substituted - Marco Riccioni , Italy
18'Marco Riccioni leaves the field, for an HIA, and Italy now have no tightheads. Hence we have uncontested scrums.
18'Italian scrum comes under pressure, but Sergio Parisse does well at the base of the set-piece, and Michele Campagnaro then does well to get outside the 22. Coupleof good kicks from Tommaso Allan, who also collected a return high ball, and Italy now have a lineout in Springboks territory.
15'South Africa lineout on the Italian 22 after they are awarded a penalty for side entry to a maul, but Lood de Jager knocks on in the set-piece.
14'Marco Riccioni, who replaced Simone Ferrari after the first scrum of the game, has what appears to be a rib injury given the way he's being strapped for an injury. Italy's scrummage has been struggling to this point, and this injury to the replacement tighthead means they'll be under increasing pressure at the set-piece and in the tight.
12'South Africa are not running rampant, but they are firmly in the ascendancy with their power game too much for Italy in the opening 10 minutes. Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard directing play nicely behind their dominant pack and runners.
12'10-3 Penalty goal - Handre Pollard , South Africa
11'Handre Pollard, Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth each get over the gainline, and Cheslin Kolbe snipes but nothing comes of the gainline dominance. We go back for a penalty awarded for a high tackle on Pieter-Steph du Toit.
10'South Africa immediately back on the attack deep inside Italy 22 after an error collecting the kick off.
9'7-3 Penalty goal - Tommaso Allan , Italy
8'Solid defence from South Africa but Mbongeni Mbonambi does not roll away from a tackle, and he gifts Italy an opportunity to get on the board with a straightforward penalty attempt.
8'Tremendous start from South Africa. Exactly what they wanted. Almost perfect in the opening five minutes. Runners Etzebeth, Vermeulen, de Jager, du Toit brilliant at getting over the gain line to deliver front-foot phases.
7'7-0 Conversion - Handre Pollard , South Africa
6'South Africa's ball runners making strong ground with powerful runs. Great long miss pass from Willie le Roux to find Cheslin Kolbe in space on the right wing, and the speedster steps inside the cover defence to post the opening score of the game.
6'5-0 Try - Cheslin Kolbe , South Africa
3'Tremendous scrummage from South Africa, exerting incredible pressure, on Italy, but slack handling means the opportunity comes to naught. South Africa awarded a penalty from the scrum, and the Boks kick the ball for a lineout inside the Italy 22.
2'Simone Ferrari leaves the field after sustaining an injury in the first scrum of the game.
2'Great defence from South Africa's back to shut down the Italian first-phase attack, and Lukhanyo Am effects a turnover at the breakdown after a solid tackle from Makazole Mpimpi.
2'Player substituted - Simone Ferrari , Italy
2'Substitute on - Marco Riccioni , Italy
1'Duane Vermeulen collects the kick-off and makes a substantial run outside the 22. Faf de Klerk launches a good contestable kick but a little knock-on from Cheslin Kolbe means we have an Italian scrum just their side of halfway.
1'We're under way, with Tommaso Allan kicking off for Italy.
1'
1'The teams emerge to a massive roar from the crowd.
1'Siya Kolisi lost the toss after calling heads. Italy will kick off, and South Africa will play the first half with the wind behind them.
1'Hello everyone, and welcome to our Live Text Commentary of the Rugby World Cup Pool B game between South Africa and Italy in Shizuoka. Italy are unbeaten in the tournament, having beaten Namibia and Canada, while the Springboks defeated Namibia having lost to New Zealand.

The Boks will be heavy favourites to win this, but they are in do-or-die pressure knowing they must score a bonus-point victory if they are to have a chance to progress to the knockout stages; lose, and they will be heading home after the pool stage.







1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby World Cup 2019 News