Italy v South Africa – Round 2
Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town
This was a rare and fascinating meeting between two very different types of team: the Italians spreading the ball wherever possible, the Springboks happy to let the pack do a lot of work.
After a few shaky moments in deep defence, the Azzurre returned to type. They flung the ball wide and there was Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi to run from inside her own 22 to score on the left.
Still inside the first ten minutes the Boks regained the initiative through the pack. The captain, Babalwa Latsha, claimed the try. (7-7)
This was going to be some game. The next minute the Azzurre were at it again, an outstanding off-load by Sara Tounesi, quick drives, then a fine over-the-top pass from Beatrice Rigoni to Aura Muzzo unmarked on the edge. Three tries in eleven minutes.
Both the Azzurre kicks were taken by Beatrice Capomaggi which will help cement her place in the centre, once Michela Sillari calls it a day.
Now came a familiar sequence: two doubtful tackles in succession, one to each side. The first caught the TMO’s attention – yellow for Veroeshka Grain.
More extravagant play by the Azzurre: passes flung in hope, dummies sold and bought, Rigoni twice involved and Alissa Ranuccini was in for their third try. (19-7). Libbie Janse van Rensburg narrowed the gap with a penalty.
Italy made the same decision with six minutes left till the break; Capomaggi responded to ensure breathing space. They finished the half with another dazzling attack, Rigoni offering a no-look back door pass in thick traffic. But the Springboks just held them out.
Half-time: Italy 22 South Africa 10
The Boks retained the upper hand at the scrum, but other elements held them back: the lineout was iffy and the penalty-count went on rising, as it has done through their recent tests. On the 50- minute mark Hele struck Veronica Madia head on nose; verdict, red card.
The punishments continue, but so do the dangerous tackles. World Rugby has a problem. Hele was mortified.
Vittoria Vecchini reaped an immediate reward, a try (29-13)
Raineri won’t be happy with what followed. Despite their lack of numbers, the Springboks got on top. A series of powerful charges by the big forwards was held, but as the ball spread right, Byrhandrè Dolf stepped back off her wing to cross.
This sequence brought a tricky moment for Aurélie Groizeleau: as the Boks built their attack, Luchell Hanekom got injured and lay in the path of advancing team-mates. Groizeleau let play continue.
Hanekom had to be removed carefully from the field on four wheels. Possibly a collar- bone. A further complication was that it meant uncontested scrums; the hooker had come on as a tactical sub, not an injury replacement. This was a different version of 15 v 13.
Till now Alyssa D’Inca had been denied her usual ration of tries, but almost inevitably it was she who added the last points of the day with a typical thrust to the line.
Result: Italy 36 South Africa 18
The teams
Italy:
15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Beatrice Capomaggi, 12 Beatrice Rigoni (captain), 11 Alyssa D’Inca, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Francesca Granzotto, 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Vittoria Vecchini, 3 Alessia Pilani, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 5 Sara Tounesi, 6 Isabella Locatelli, 7 Alissa Ranuccini, 8 Giulia Cavina
Bench: 16 Laura Gurioli, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Lucia Gai, 19 Alessandra Frangipani, 20 Elena Errichiello, 21 Nicole Mastrangelo, 22 Emma Stevanin, 23 Sofia Catellani
South Africa:
15 Chuma Qawe, 14 Byrhandrè Dolf, 13 Veroeshka Grain, 12 Piwokuhle Nyanda, 11 Shaunique Hess, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, 9 Tayla Kinsey, 1 Sanelisiwe Charlie, 2 Micke Gunter, 3 Babalwa Latsha (captain), 4 Nolusindiso Booi, 5 Danelle Lochner, 6 Lusanda Dumke, 7 Catha Jacobs, 8 Aseza Hele
Bench: 16 Luchell Hanekom 17 Asithandile Nyoyanto 18 Yonela Ngxingolo 19 Vainah Ubisi 20 Sinazo Mcatshulwa 21 Nompumelelo Mathe 22 Unam Tose 23 Unathi Mali
Raineri has obviously told his charges to be adventurous; he wouldn’t be adding black marks to his notebook of things went wrong. It all made for breathless rugby.
Officials
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (FFR)
ARs: Kat Roche (USA) and Precious Pazani (Zim) TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Afterthought
Cards and tackles
Brian Moore has said of the tackle, it’s very simple, lower your body. Unfortunately my uneducated belief is that that is not human instinct, especially when confronted with a sudden one-on-one. It is rather to brace yourself, stand as strong as you can to face the onslaught. In rugby, that cannot be.
So my pre-tournament concerns about cards is proving all too justified.
The officials have no alternatives. Safety must come first. But it is coming escorted by a rash of coloured cards, too many of them red; two in the games I have reported on today.
