Bongi Mbonambi, the battle-hardened Springbok hooker, is dialing up the intensity ahead of South Africa's impending clash with Italy. Citing the Springboks' historical stumble in Florence back in 2016, where they faced a humbling 20-18 defeat, Mbonambi is sounding the alarm against underestimating the Azzurri this weekend.
Mbonambi, who experienced first-hand the shock of that loss, one of the Springboks' darkest days, is not here for a repeat performance. "When you represent your country, you always have something to lose, and that applies to both us and them," he stated, emphasizing the high stakes involved in every match they play.
"We are expecting a massive battle from them, and we know they are going to come hard at us up front for 80 minutes, so we cannot afford to get comfortable at any stage of the match because they have the potential to cause damage,"
Mbonambi commented, highlighting the relentless pressure expected from Italy.
The seasoned player, with 77 caps to his name, pointed out the often-overlooked emotional intensity and solid work ethic of the Italian squad, traits that have only been fortified under the guidance of their passionate coach, Gonzalo Quesada. "The Italian pack proved what they can do in the Six Nations, and they are a team that believes in their systems and plays with a lot of passion," he added.
Mbonambi didn't mince words about the challenges posed by the Italian team, driven by a smaller pool of players but no less formidable. "They may have a smaller group of players to choose from compared to South Africa with so few clubs, but they are hard-working players, and we are expecting a tough day at the office," he concluded, setting the stage for what promises to be a gritty showdown.
With the Springboks gearing up to face Italy, the match is shaping up to be more than just a routine test; it's a chance for South Africa to either reaffirm their dominance or fall victim once more to the undying spirit of the Azzurri.
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Bongi Mbonambi, the battle-hardened Springbok hooker, is dialing up the intensity ahead of South Africa's impending clash with Italy. Citing the Springboks' historical stumble in Florence back in 2016, where they faced a humbling 20-18 defeat, Mbonambi is sounding the alarm against underestimating the Azzurri this weekend.
Mbonambi, who experienced first-hand the shock of that loss, one of the Springboks' darkest days, is not here for a repeat performance. "When you represent your country, you always have something to lose, and that applies to both us and them," he stated, emphasizing the high stakes involved in every match they play.
"We are expecting a massive battle from them, and we know they are going to come hard at us up front for 80 minutes, so we cannot afford to get comfortable at any stage of the match because they have the potential to cause damage,"
Mbonambi commented, highlighting the relentless pressure expected from Italy.The seasoned player, with 77 caps to his name, pointed out the often-overlooked emotional intensity and solid work ethic of the Italian squad, traits that have only been fortified under the guidance of their passionate coach, Gonzalo Quesada. "The Italian pack proved what they can do in the Six Nations, and they are a team that believes in their systems and plays with a lot of passion," he added.
Mbonambi didn't mince words about the challenges posed by the Italian team, driven by a smaller pool of players but no less formidable. "They may have a smaller group of players to choose from compared to South Africa with so few clubs, but they are hard-working players, and we are expecting a tough day at the office," he concluded, setting the stage for what promises to be a gritty showdown.
With the Springboks gearing up to face Italy, the match is shaping up to be more than just a routine test; it's a chance for South Africa to either reaffirm their dominance or fall victim once more to the undying spirit of the Azzurri.