OWN CORRESPONDENT, Port Elizabeth | Wednesday 8.30pm.
THE Springboks are not taking their two-Test series against Italy for granted, despite the visitors’ thrashing this week against a minor provincial side, captain Gary Teichmann said on Wednesday.
The Boks captain told reporters in Port Elizabeth — where his team will meet Italy on Saturday for the first Test — that the Italians could put up a good fight despite their 47-10 thrashing Tuesday against South Western Districts Eagles.
Italian captain Massimo Giovanelli also dismissed the midweek match, saying: “For 15 of our players this is their first experience of touring and there is a clear distinction between the midweek and Test side.”
Teichmann said: “A couple of us played Italy in 1997 and we struggled in the first half of that game,” referring to the Springboks’ 62-31 win against Italy in Bologna, where the teams last met.
“Italy also came pretty close to beating England recently and they clearly have the ability to rise to the big game,” he said.
In November, England beat Italy 23-15 in a World Cup European Zone qualifier.
The only other Test between the sides was in 1995, when South Africa took a 40-21 victory.
Giovanelli said his side did not feel they had to match or better these performances. “The team has changed a lot. We just want to prove on the pitch that we can perform at this level,” he said.
He added: “Saturday’s match will be the really important one and it’s going to be a real tester for us. We are playing the world champions and all the players have grasped that reality.
Teichmann was not concerned that the inclusion of four new caps in Saturday’s line up would hamper the Springboks’ performance.
“Most of the guys were around on the tour at the end of last year and we’ve kept the set-up the same in terms of calls,” he said.
However, the squad was a little apprehensive about their game as it was World Cup year, he said.
“We have to try and live up to the successful 1995 World Cup side, so the players have that added pressure on them.
“But in the bigger picture, we’re not yet looking at the World Cup. We still have to get through Wales after the Tests against Italy and I don’t want to go to the Tri-Nations being part of a first Springbok team that lost to Wales,” he said. -AFP