THE South Western Districts Eagles thrashed Italy 47-10 on Tuesday in a warm-up to the first Test against the Springboks this weekend. The George team scored six converted tries – including a hat trick by centre Tiaan Joubert and a penalty try – to one. The second string visitor’s side was comprehensively outplayed, managing to add only a conversion and penalty to their tally, after the home side led 14-3 at half-time. Ahead of the two-Test series beginning on Saturday, Italian coach George Coste not only has to worry about his team’s poor showing against a minor provincial but also what appeared to be a serious knee injury to scrumhalf Matteo Mazzantini.