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November 8, 2026

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Italy vs South Africa, Autumn Nations Series 2022
Sports

Springboks Thrash Italy 66-7 in Turin to Stay Perfect in the Nations Championship

Faizan Altaf

World champions South Africa produced a ruthless display in Turin on Saturday, beating an injury-hit Italy 66-7 to stay perfect in the Nations Championship and move a big step closer to the final.

The Springboks scored nine tries, all of them converted, at the Allianz Stadium. They led 45-0 at half-time after scoring six tries in a remarkable opening 40 minutes, and they never let Italy back into the game.

It was South Africa’s fourth win from four matches in the new competition, and it gave them the maximum 20 points in the standings. Just as important, it stretched their points difference to plus 140, which could prove decisive in the race for the final.

A first half to remember

South Africa started fast and never slowed down. Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu opened the scoring with an early penalty, then cut through the Italian defence from 40 metres to score the first try of the match.

From there, the tries came in a flood. Five of the first six tries arrived inside the opening 25 minutes, and the bonus point was already secured before the game was half an hour old. By the break, the Springboks were 45-0 ahead.

Italy, missing several players through injury, could not cope with the speed and power of the South African attack. In the entire first half, Italy did not manage a single dominant carry, a measure of how completely South Africa controlled the game.

The home side did fight back after the break. Italy scored through lock Federico Ruzza, converted by Tommaso Allan, and won the second half’s effort battle as South Africa lost some rhythm through blood replacements and head injury assessments. But the second half still finished 21-7 to the visitors, and the result was never in doubt.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu steals the show

The star of the day was 24-year-old Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The fly-half scored a sensational individual try, produced a brilliant 50:22 kick, and was almost flawless with the boot, landing all nine conversions and a penalty for 21 kicking points on top of his try.

His performance underlined why he has become one of the most exciting young players in world rugby. He controlled the game from fly-half, attacked the line when the chance was there, and punished Italy every time they gave away a penalty within range.

Scrum-half Morne van den Berg was named man of the match after another excellent display. He scored one of the nine tries and kept the Springboks playing at a high tempo throughout.

The scorers

South Africa’s nine tries were shared around the team, which will please head coach Rassie Erasmus as much as the scoreline.

Hooker Malcolm Marx scored twice. Captain Siya Kolisi, Damian Willemse, Wilco Louw, Paul de Villiers and Ethan Hooker also crossed the line, along with Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Van den Berg. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted all nine tries.

For Italy, Federico Ruzza’s second-half try at least gave the home crowd something to cheer, with Tommaso Allan adding the conversion.

The 66-7 win was South Africa’s biggest away victory over Italy. Italy’s heaviest defeat remains the 101-0 loss to the Springboks in 1999, but this was still a painful afternoon for the Azzurri in front of their own fans.

What is the Nations Championship?

For readers who are new to rugby, the Nations Championship is a new competition, and this is its first edition. Teams from the northern and southern hemispheres play each other across a series of rounds, and the standings decide who reaches the Grand Final at Twickenham on the last Sunday of November.

That is why points difference matters so much. When teams finish level on points, the side that has scored more points than it has conceded across its matches goes ahead. South Africa’s plus 140 is therefore worth almost as much as the win itself. It gives them a cushion if the race for the final goes down to the last round.

A bonus point is also on offer in each match, and South Africa secured theirs early in Turin, with the bonus point wrapped up by the 25th minute. In simple terms, the Springboks did everything they needed to do, and they did it quickly.

What the win means for the title race

South Africa are setting the pace in the new competition. They had already beaten England, Scotland and Wales in their July fixtures, and this win over Italy keeps them on maximum points after four games.

The standings matter because only the top teams will reach the Grand Final at Twickenham on the last Sunday of November. South Africa now hold an 89-point advantage over New Zealand on points difference in the Southern Hemisphere table, which also includes Australia, Argentina, Japan and Fiji.

New Zealand were due to face Scotland at Murrayfield later on Saturday, so the Springboks will have been watching that result closely. But with maximum points and a huge points difference, South Africa now control their own path to the final. If they keep winning, no other team can catch them.

A tough day for Italy

Italy deserve credit for the way they kept fighting, but this was a hard afternoon for them. They went into the game missing several players through injury, and against the world champions that is a difficult starting point.

The home crowd in Turin still had a moment to enjoy when Ruzza powered over for Italy’s only try in the second half. The Azzurri also showed more fight after the break, winning more of the physical battles and forcing South Africa into errors.

But the gap between the two sides was clear from the first whistle. Italy had no answer to South Africa’s speed at the breakdown, the accuracy of Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s kicking, or the power of the Springbok forwards. By the time the match reached the hour mark, the contest had long been decided.

Italy will hope for better in their remaining home games. They host Argentina in Genoa next Saturday and then face Fiji in Udine a week later. Both will be chances to rebuild confidence after a heavy defeat.

Erasmus’s warning: France will be much harder

Despite the scale of the win, Erasmus was not fully satisfied. South Africa had lost lock Salmaan Moerat before kick-off after he pulled out with back spasms, and the coach felt his side’s second-half performance dropped off.

“We have to play much better than this if we want to be competitive against France and Ireland,” Erasmus said after the match.

He has good reason to demand more. South Africa travel to Paris on Friday to face France, the Six Nations champions, in one of the biggest grudge matches in Test rugby. After that comes Ireland in Dublin, another huge test against one of the best teams in the world.

The coach also pointed to the bigger picture. He has been gradually introducing new players into the squad to build depth ahead of South Africa’s defence of the Rugby World Cup in 2027. Young players such as Ethan Hooker, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ruan Nortje, Cameron Hanekom, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Paul de Villiers are all getting chances, and on this evidence the plan is working.

That blend of experience and youth is what makes this Springboks side so dangerous. The starting team in Turin carried around 1,000 caps between them, yet the side still found room for players making their mark at the highest level. Erasmus’s gamble is to grow the squad now so that, by the time the World Cup arrives in 2027, South Africa have more than one world-class option in every position.

The France game will be the real test of that plan. Paris is a hard place to win, and France will be desperate to beat the world champions at home. If South Africa can repeat their first-half performance from Turin for a full 80 minutes, they will be hard for anyone to stop.

Frequently asked questions

What was the score between Italy and South Africa?

South Africa beat Italy 66-7 in Turin on Saturday, 7 November 2026, in the Nations Championship. The Springboks led 45-0 at half-time.

Who scored the tries for South Africa?

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx (2), Siya Kolisi, Damian Willemse, Wilco Louw, Paul de Villiers and Ethan Hooker. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted all nine tries and kicked a penalty.

Where do South Africa stand in the Nations Championship?

South Africa have won all four of their matches and hold the maximum 20 points, with a points difference of plus 140. They lead New Zealand on points difference in the Southern Hemisphere table.

Who do South Africa play next?

South Africa face France in Paris on Friday, followed by Ireland in Dublin. Both are among the toughest fixtures in world rugby.

Who was the man of the match?

Scrum-half Morne van den Berg was named man of the match after an excellent all-round display in Turin.

Sources

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.

Faizan Altaf

Faizan Altaf is the founder and author of findivoza.com, a news blog covering world, Pakistan, business, technology, health and sport in plain English. He writes for general readers who want clear, trustworthy news without jargon. His work focuses on explaining what happened, why it matters, and what to watch next.

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