Springboks Crush Italy 66-7 in Nations Championship
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South Africa thrashed an injury-hit Italy 66-7 in Turin on Saturday, running in nine tries to keep a perfect record in the Nations Championship and take control of the Southern Hemisphere group.
Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored the first of the Springboks' tries and added 21 points with a faultless kicking display, as the world champions produced a dominant performance at Allianz Stadium.
Brutal first half settles the contest
South Africa ran in six tries in the opening half and effectively ended the match before the break, with Italy unable to cope with the visitors' pace and physicality. The home side, already weakened by injuries, conceded again and again as the Springboks kept the pressure on after half-time.
The win keeps South Africa on maximum points in the competition. They had already taken maximum points from their three July fixtures to top the Southern Hemisphere group ahead of New Zealand on points difference, and the Turin result extends that advantage.
Title race still open
The victory leaves South Africa with a maximum 20 points from 20 in the Southern Hemisphere table and an 89-point advantage over New Zealand on points difference, according to RugbyPass. New Zealand can still respond, with the All Blacks facing Scotland at Murrayfield later on Saturday.
For Italy, the heavy defeat underlines the gap to the world's best sides, with their injury problems leaving them short of the depth needed to live with the Springboks over 80 minutes. South Africa, by contrast, look in strong shape as the Nations Championship heads towards its decisive rounds.
