BOK PREVIEW: Brave selection but bench provides significant safety net

Italy have selected a six/two ‘Bomb Squad’ bench split to combat the Springbok forward power but Rassie Erasmus’ ‘hybrid’ innovation makes it hard to say whether the hosts will be up against a like configuration in Saturday’s Quilter Autumn Series match in Turin.

Much was rightly made of Andre Esterhuizen’s role in last weekend’s big comeback win over France in Paris. His try was scored as a flank but he effectively filled both a loose-forward and centre role as the Boks successfully found a solution to going down to 14 men after Lood de Jager was sent off just before halftime.

According to the numbering of the Boks at Thursday’s team announcement Esterhuizen, who will wear the No 20, is a flank in this game. But the number on your back doesn’t pigeon-hole your role, and Erasmus knows that. He won’t mind keeping the Italy coaches guessing.

THE ‘FLENTER’ MAY WELL PLAY THIS ONE AT CENTRE

In talking about what he was trying out in the Turin game, Erasmus referenced how little Esterhuizen has played in his primary position in the midfield recently, which appeared to be a hint that we might see Esterhuizen slot in at centre in this game and not at flank.

Of course that all depends on how the game goes, meaning whether there are injuries or another red card to deviate from the set plan. Certainly listening to Esterhuizen talk in a media clip sent out post the Paris game, it appeared that the initial plan last week was for Esterhuizen to come on as a centre and if that was the case the odds are on him doing that in Turin.

It would make sense if you consider the inexperience in what is also a prodigiously talented and promising starting midfield, with young Ethan Hooker playing his first international game in his preferred position of inside centre. Which of course is Esterhuizen’s position at the franchise that Hooker plays for, the Hollywoodbets Sharks.

But Esterhuizen playing centre won’t detract in any way from the potential impact of the Bok bench, and in fact it may increase it if you consider that while his career as a flank is still at a fledgling stage, he is a world class No 12. As is Manie Libbok as a flyhalf, and ditto Grant Williams at scrumhalf, with both set to reprise their roles as impact subs that made a difference at Stade de France.

POTENTIAL POINT OF DIFFERENCE

In a game which may now have introduced more nerves for South African fans than would have been the case before the selection, meaning 11 changes and the call up of several younger players that for once leaves the Boks with fewer international caps than their opponents, the visiting bench could well be the point of difference between the two teams.

Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith complete the list of replacements, and that is a formidable group of players who are all equipped to engineer the kind of gear shift that lifted the Boks out of peril and into a winning position despite them being down to 14 men a week ago.

The bookies were giving Italy a 21 point start in this game and that might have been adjusted subsequent to the selection announcement because steady and reliable though he is, Handre Pollard doesn’t tend to have the same dazzling impact on the Bok attacking game as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Libbok do.

Italy will recall that the Boks were a bit laboured on attack in the first half at Loftus when the two teams met in July, although that also had a lot to do with what they got away with at the breakdown.

Which cues where the biggest area of concern might be for Bok fans going into this game - the tight five is a new one and is some way short of the experienced unit that started last week.

But provided the Boks don’t allow Italy to get off to a fast start and force them to play catch-up, the bench should give the visitors the edge they need in the second half and it should not be forgotten that it was in the second half against Italy in Florence in 2022, also a week after an emotionally charged game against France, made his statement arrival on the international stage.

🇮🇹 Italy announce their team to take on Springboks! #ITAvRSA pic.twitter.com/4Ujh8duKjT — Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) November 13, 2025

MANIE RETURNING TO WHERE IT STARTED FOR HIM

Pollard missed that tour because of injury so it was Damian Willemse who started at No 10 in that game but it was Libbok’s arrival after halftime that put the Boks out of reach as he created a myriad scoring chances for a Bok team that weren’t the attacking force they have now become.

My money says that is what will happen again - Italy will be in the game for the first 40 minutes to an hour, but then the X-factor and distribution skills of Libbok will be introduced along with the prodigious skills for such a big man of Snyman will be introduced and make a telling impact.

It may not be a win by 21 points, and Erasmus himself says it will be a 50/50 game, but the Bok bench should ensure some daylight between the teams on the scoreboard, and in their favour, by the final whistle.

While Erasmus has made 11 changes, Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has made just one change to the team that started in Italy’s impressive win over Australia last week, with Marco Riccioni coming in as the tighthead prop for Simone Ferrari, who moves to the bench.

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Rassie Erasmus makes a raft of changes to the Springbok side to face Italy in Turin on Saturday afternoon 🇿🇦🚨#SSRugby | #QuilterNS pic.twitter.com/DC6hzp1Byz — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) November 13, 2025

The Italy team is very different to the one that played against the Boks in July and apart from their breakdown prowess as a unit the Boks will also be wary of the excellent home midfield of skipper

Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, with the latter in particular being responsible for much of the momentum that powered Italy’s impressive second half performance against the Wallabies.

It’s a big test therefore for the new but exciting young Bok midfield, but that is the point - the Bok coach is prepared to take risks to meet a future goal. And that is why he has been so successful.

Teams

Italy: Ange Capuozzo, Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex (captain), Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney, Lorenzo Cannone, Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintcent, Andrea Zambonin, Niccolò Cannone, Marco Riccioni, Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti.

Replacements: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Simone Ferrari, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Martin Page-Relo, Tommaso Allan.

South Africa: Damian Willemse, Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Ethan Hooker, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard, Morne van den Berg, Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar, Boan Venter.

Replacements: Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Ruan Nortje, Andre Esterhuizen, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok.

Kick-off: 2:40pm SAST

Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)

Prediction: Boks to win by 15