South Africa can all but qualify for the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup with victory over Italy at the Shizuoka Stadium on Friday.
RWC Pool B
RSA v Italy
4 October 11h45
Shizuoka Stadium
To Win
South Africa 1/100
Draw 30/1
Italy 11/1
Handicap
South Africa (-30.5) 9/10
Italy (+30/5) 9/10
Following their disappointing 23-13 loss to the All Blacks that effectively guaranteed them first-place in Pool B, the Boks did well to see off Namibia 57-3 on the weekend. That performance would certainly have upped the confidence in the squad and while it wasn’t perfect, they will relish the chance to claim another win over the Italians.
It seems an eternity ago that the Boks fell to Italy 20-18 in Florence. Now three-years later, they have the chance to qualify for the World Cup knockouts with a win over the same opponents, with Italy unlikely to seriously challenge New Zealand when they meet in the final round of pool matches.
It will be interesting to see who Rassie Erasmus selects to start in this one but, in all likelihood, it will be a reasonably strong starting XV. After their loss to Japan in the last World Cup (not to mention the Brave Blossoms’ win over Ireland last week), the Boks aren’t likely to underestimate any opposition; not least one they infamously fell to just a few short years ago.
Verdict: Boks by 14-points or more
To their credit, Italy have already claimed comfortable victories over Namibia (47-22) and Canada (48-7), but their winning run should come to an end this weekend. The Springboks should use this Test to polish any remaining chinks in their armour in anticipation of the playoffs. They will be too good.
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets
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