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Autumn Internationals 2025 WK3 Italy vs. South Africa Preview:
Can the Azzurri tame the mighty Springboks in Turin?

November 13, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

The Autumn Internationals enters its third week with a tantalizing clash between a revitalized Italy and the reigning world champions, South Africa, at the picturesque Allianz Stadium in Turin. For the Azzurri, this fixture represents a prime opportunity to sustain their momentum following a stunning 26–19 victory over the Wallabies, while the Springboks arrive determined to assert their dominance on northern soil. With kickoff set for 12:40 PM GMT, the Italian faithful will hope their side can once again rise to the occasion under the early afternoon lights.

Under head coaches Gonzalo Quesada and Rassie Erasmus, respectively, Italy's discipline and home-grown intensity will be tested against the Springboks' trademark power, pace, and tactical depth. Both sides come off hard-fought Round 1 wins—Italy's comeback heroics against the Wallabies and South Africa's gritty triumph in Paris—setting the stage for a high-stakes encounter that pits passion against precision.

Recent Form: Momentum vs Machine

Azzurri enters this matchup riding high after their emotional victory over the Wallabies in Udine on November 8. Trailing at halftime, they roared back with tries from Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane, while Paolo Garbisi's composure off the tee proved decisive. It marked Italy's second straight win over the Wallabies and signaled genuine progress under Quesada's system. Earlier in the year, their July tour of southern Africa—featuring two Tests against the Boks—exposed weaknesses in set-pieces but also provided valuable experience.

South Africa, meanwhile, remain a juggernaut. They began their tour by overpowering France 32–17 in Paris despite losing Lood de Jager to a red card. With tries from Jesse Kriel, Morne van den Berg, and Kurt-Lee Arendse, plus Handré Pollard's clinical boot, the Boks extended their unbeaten run in 2025. Erasmus's "bomb squad" approach—deploying fresh forwards mid-match—has continued to devastate opponents, though discipline remains an area to monitor.

Head-to-Head: History Favors the Boks

South Africa commands a dominant record, winning 15 of 16 encounters since 1995. Their average margin of victory stands at a remarkable 36 points, highlighted by the infamous 101–0 thrashing in Durban in 1999. Italy's lone win came in 2016 (20–18 in Florence), a seismic upset that remains etched in Azzurri rugby folklore.

Date	Venue	Result	Competition
Jul 5, 2025	Cape Town	Italy 27–42 South Africa	Test Series
Nov 19, 2022	Ancona	Italy 6–35 South Africa	Autumn Int.
Nov 19, 2016	Florence	Italy 20–18 South Africa	Autumn Int.

Overall Record: South Africa 15 wins (94%) – Italy 1 win (6%) – Draws: 0
Total Points: Italy 222 – South Africa 804

Rivalry Report: From Blowouts to Bold Challenges

While not a traditional rivalry, this matchup has grown into a meaningful litmus test for Italy's progress. The early years were brutal, with lopsided scorelines and a glaring gap in class. Yet Italy's 2016 win and recent competitiveness under Quesada have turned these fixtures into credible contests. The Springboks, using such matches to test squad combinations, respect Italy's evolution—especially their pace, defensive organization, and set-piece improvements.

Expect Erasmus's trademark psychological edge and Lamaro's fiery leadership to add emotional intensity. Though South Africa remains the clear favorite, Italy's growing belief at home could make this more than a routine outing for the champions.

Team News & Expected Lineups

Italy (Expected XV, 4–3–3 split)
Fischetti – Nicotera – Ferrari – N. Cannone – Ruzza – Negri – Lamaro (c) – L. Cannone – Varney – Garbisi – Ioane – Menoncello – Brex – Trulla – Capuozzo

Key Notes: Lynagh shifts to the bench despite recent heroics; Negri's lineout work and Capuozzo's counter-attacks remain central to Italy's attack.

South Africa (Expected XV, 6–2 bench)
Nché – Marx – Louw – Etzebeth – Snyman – Kolisi (c) – du Toit – Wiese – Williams – Pollard – Arendse – de Allende – Kriel – Moodie – Le Roux

Key Notes: De Jager suspended; Etzebeth's leadership and Pollard's precision are vital. Kolbe and Kwagga Smith headline a power-packed bench.

Italy vs. South Africa Sports Bet Odds

The Springboks are the favorites to win the match. Here are our latest odds:

• The Springbooks are favored by 22.5 points, with to win odds of 1.05.
• The Azzurri are the underdogs by 22.5 points, with to win odds of 9.00.
• Total is set at 56.5 points, with the under at 1.90 and the over at 1.90.

Key Battles & Tactical Outlook

Set-Piece War: Italy's 85% lineout success vs. South Africa's world-class maul led by Marx and Etzebeth.

Halfback Duel: Varney's tempo against Williams' territorial kicking; Garbisi must manage pressure under Pollard's tactical kicks.

Backline Clash: Capuozzo and Ioane bring flair, but de Allende and Arendse offer defensive steel and attacking punch.

Discipline Factor: South Africa's 14-man win over France proves resilience, yet repeated penalties could give Garbisi chances to keep Italy in touch.

Final Thought

Italy's growth under Quesada has brought renewed optimism and competitive fire to their rugby renaissance, and the Azzurri's fearless home form could once again test a global powerhouse. Yet the Springboks' blend of power, precision, and championship pedigree remains a formidable obstacle.

If Italy can disrupt the breakdown and sustain possession, they might just make history again—but South Africa's depth and discipline should see them through.

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2025/26 Premier League MW11 Tottenham vs. Man Utd Preview:
Will the Spurs keep their winning streak over the Red Devils?

November 6, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

The Premier League 2025–26 Week 11 showdown between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United is set for Saturday, November 8 at 12:30 GMT at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both clubs enter the match aiming to climb further up the table as the season approaches its mid-point... read more »

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2025/26 Premier League MW10 Liverpool vs. Aston Villa Preview:
Can the Reds Reignite Their Fire Against the Villans?

October 30, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

Chelsea will host Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, October 25, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 PM BST. The Blues enter this clash seeking their fifth consecutive win across all competitions, while the Black Cats look to maintain their strong form and secure a third win in four matches... read more »

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St. Leger Stakes

The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards (2,937 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

Established in 1776, the St. Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and it is raced over a longer distance than any of the previous four.

The St. Leger is the final leg of the English Triple Crown, preceded by the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby. It also completes the Fillies' Triple Crown, which begins with the 1,000 Guineas and continues with the Oaks. In recent decades, however, the St. Leger has rarely featured a Triple Crown contender.

The event was devised by Anthony St. Leger, an army officer and politician who lived near to Doncaster. The race did not initially bear his name - it was first referred to as "A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas". It was restricted to horses aged three, and its original distance was two miles. The rules stipulated that colts were to carry 8 st, and fillies 7 st 12 lb.

The inaugural running was held at Cantley Common on 24 September 1776. The first winner was an unnamed filly owned by the event's organizer, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. The filly was later named Allabaculia. The event was moved to its present location, Town Moor, in 1778... more St. Leger Stakes info »