Bok secure big win in Genoa

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Luca Sighinolfi/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix (13630213w) Italy vs South Africa. South Africa's Kurt-Lee Arendse tackled by Ange Capuozzo of Italy 2022 Autumn Nations Series, Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa - 19 Nov 2022

Kurt-Lee Arendse grabbed two tries in a Man of the Match performance to inspire the Springboks to record a 63-21 win over Italy in Genoa on Saturday afternoon.

The victory was the Springboks’ first in the Northern Hemisphere after narrow defeats to Ireland and France in the previous two weeks.

The 63 points scored by the Boks against the Azzurri is their highest score in Italy and their highest score against the Azzurri since their 101-0 victory in Durban in 1999.

It was also the largest margin of victory under Jacques Nienaber as head coach, surpassing the 40-9 victory over Georgia in his first Test in 2021, and the largest victory for the Boks since beating Canada 66-7 at the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

Both teams played enterprising rugby in the first half, with the Springboks scoring two tries, a conversion, and a penalty goal to take an 18-13 halftime lead. The home team responded with a try that was converted and two penalty goals.

The Springboks outscored the Azzurri by seven tries to one in the second half, halting the Azzurri with their magnificent attacking play.

Scorers:

Springboks 63 (18) – Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse (2), Bongi Mbonambi, Cheslin Kolbe, Kwagga Smith, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Damian Willemse, Cobus Reinach. Conversions: Kolbe, Manie Libbok (5). Penalty goals: Kolbe (2).

Italy 21 (13) – Tries: Ange Capuozzo, Lorenzo Cannone. Conversions: Tommaso Allan. Penalty goals: Allan (3).

Photo by Sighinolfi/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix