Handrè Pollard of the Springboks scores a try during the Test match between South Africa and Wales at DHL Stadium on 16 July 2022 in Cape Town. (Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images) 
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has already showed that innovation and change are part of the squad’s reality, only a few weeks into the new international season.
The introduction of Andre Esterhuizen as a “hybrid centre/flank” has been dissected and analysed and is part of a continuing trend to innovate and lead.
While the Esterhuizen development is the most obvious change by the Boks, there have been a few other subtle variations to their preparation for the season’s opening Test against Italy at Loftus Versfeld.
In the Erasmus era, when at home the Boks have always stayed in the town where the Test is being played, and only in exceptional circumstances will they have their captain’s run anywhere but at the match stadium the day before kick-off.
This week though, the Boks chose not to stay in Pretoria, instead setting up base in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
And, as a consequence, they opted to train and have their captain’s run at Ellis Park. Basically, they weren’t going to trek down the N1 for a light session at Loftus.
It may be a once-off due to the fact that the Bulls’ board were meeting at Loftus on Friday to decide on director of rugby Jake White’s future, and the Boks didn’t want to walk into a media scrum at the stadium.
Or it could be a change of approach that will see the Boks alter their pre-match routine more regularly. It may seem like a small, insignificant detail, but the Boks under Erasmus don’t do anything on a whim. Every detail is planned to the nth degree.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TL_2414601-1.jpg "Vincent Tshituka of South Africa during the match between South Africa and the Barbarians at DHL Stadium on 28 June 2025 in Cape Town. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)")
Plans laid
Whatever their reasoning, the Boks will be well prepared for the first Test against Italy. On paper this should be a comfortable win for a side packed with experience, talent and sprinkled with some new faces.
While anything other than a large winning margin would be a surprise, Erasmus was clear that the scoreboard is only a small part of the Boks’ measurement of success from Tests in general, and this clash in particular.
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Obviously winning is the priority, but whether it’s by one point or 50, the post-match analysis will focus on whether core objectives in terms of their gameplan, individual performances and attitude were met.
To that end, the Boks need to be more clinical than they were during their 54-7 win over the Barbarians last week. They were sharp at times but fluffed a few early chances too.
They’ll also be looking for a better return on their lineout maul work. Hooker Malcolm Marx scored from the first rolling maul last week, but after that the Barbarians stopped the Bok juggernaut effectively.
Italy will be a better team, in the sense that they have played together and will pose some tough questions.
Flank Vincent Tshituka, who will make his Test debut after a strong outing against the Barbarians, will have a big job.
While that performance was taken into consideration, the Boks usually select their teams several weeks ahead of a game, and regardless of the standard of performances this week, the team for the second Test is decided.
“Our team for the second Test against Italy has already been announced internally – the players know who is playing next week,” Erasmus stated at his public team announcement on Tuesday.
It’s a policy that the Boks have used for years but one that has also become easier to implement as the squad has matured.
The 23-man squad for the first Test at Loftus has a combined 1,204 caps, averaging just more than 52 caps per player.
The way Erasmus has constantly juggled team selections since his first day on the job in 2018, has led to a wide and deep pool of experience.
Siya Kolisi (92 caps) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (86 caps) are expected to play next week, while there are other vastly experienced players such as scrumhalf Cobus Reinach also waiting to return.
How Tshituka can stunt Italian momentum on the gain line will be a key factor in the match, while flyhalf Handrè Pollard’s return will require him to continue building on the growing attacking intent the Boks are implementing.
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There is a perception that a Pollard selection equals a conservative Bok team. That simply isn’t the case, and in the past year under attack coach Tony Brown, Pollard has quietly sharpened his soft skills.
“This is a good Italian team, and we are certainly not underestimating them, especially with the passion and physicality they play with,” said Pollard.
“They also have a lot of threats, and they are a side that are clearly evolving if one looks at their results in the last few years against some of the top teams, so it will be important to stop them and to front up physically.
“Over and above that, we have set high standards for ourselves, and we want to implement that at Test level.”
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TL_2414680.jpg "Rassie Erasmus during the post-match press conference after the match between South Africa and the Barbarians on 28 June 2025. (Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images)")
Nothing to lose
The Italians are without some stars such as exciting fullback Ange Capuozzo and flank Sebastian Negri, but they come into the match with nothing to lose.
The Azzurri plan to match the Boks physicality, and like the world champions, have selected a 6-2 bench.
“It is difficult to consider the possibility of bringing a 5-3 bench split against South Africa,” Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada said.
“We are forced to play with a 6-2 to face them; we cannot afford to have one less forward.
“We counted the caps, there are 388 Italians against their 1,204. For this group, it is an incredible opportunity, playing at the home of the best in the world and against a top-level team, and the fact that they field such a strong team shows the respect that South Africa has for us.
“We could find many adjectives for South Africa, but the reality is that there is no greater challenge than this, it is the most difficult match that the boys have ever faced; it is the toughest challenge that exists.” DM
Teams:
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (capt), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Reserves: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Willie le Roux.
Italy: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo De Re, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manual Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Andrea Zambonini, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Tommasso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Reserves: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali. 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alessandro Garbisis, 23 Giulo Bertaccinini.
Date: Saturday, 5 July
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 5.10pm
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Andrew Brace (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
TV: SuperSport and SABC