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Boks set for ‘do-or-die’ test against Italy

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South Africa’s players take part in a captain’s run training session yesterday. Photo: AFP

SHIZUOKA (Japan): Nervous South Africa head into their must-win Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with Italy today as favourites, but come up against opponents with little to lose and a hunger for an upset at the Shizuoka Stadium.

The match is essentially a knock-out fixture for the Springboks, who lost 23-13 to New Zealand in their opener before rallying to defeat minnows Namibia 57-3. There is some precedent for an upset, with South Africa losing 20-18 to Italy on their 2016 tour, although the Boks have markedly improved in the last 18 months under coach Rassie Erasmus.

South Africa’s players take part in a captain’s run training session yesterday. Photo: AFP

“We’ve been preparing for 20 or 21 Test matches and it is do-or-die now,” Erasmus told reporters.

“The players feel it. I can’t sit here and tell you that we don’t have a few butterflies, because we’ve lost to Italy in the last three years. They (Italy) will be really up for this game because they won’t believe they can beat the All Blacks, but they will believe they can beat the Springboks.”

South Africa have made three changes to their pack from the team that lost their opener, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi and experienced prop Tendai Mtawarira in the front row, and Lood de Jager chosen at lock. Erasmus is convinced the battle will be won or lost in the forwards and, like Italy, has chosen a 6-2 split among his replacements in favour of the heavy artillery. – Reuters

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