As the Springboks gear up to take on Italy at Loftus, scrum coach Daan Human and front-row maverick Jan-Hendrik Wessels are bracing for what promises to be a clash of titans. Fresh off a steamrolling 54-7 victory over the Barbarians, the Boks are entering their Test campaign with their eyes set on maintaining their world champion status. Meanwhile, Italy, sitting comfortably in the 10th spot on the World Rugby rankings, is not to be underestimated after a staggering 73-6 triumph over Namibia.
Human emphasized the challenge ahead, noting,
"Unlike the Barbarians, who do not play regularly, Italy do, so we will be facing a proper Test team on Saturday."
He stressed the importance of not underestimating their opponents, especially given Italy's formidable scrum stats. "They have a 93% scrum completion rate, and they snagged four scrum penalties and a penalty try against Namibia," he added, clearly acknowledging the threat posed by the Azzurri's pack.Wessels, who notched a try against the Barbarians, shared insights from his experiences against Italian clubs in the Vodacom URC. "I faced Zebre Parma and Benetton, and we did our homework on those players then, so we know the emphasis they place on the scrums," he explained. His flexibility in playing both loosehead prop and hooker has been a boon for the Boks, especially in the wake of teammate injuries.
The preparation for this clash has been intense. Wessels and tighthead prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye spent quality time honing their scrum skills on Human's Free State farm. Wessels recounted the experience positively,
"It's the small things that make one a better player, and although it was tough, I really enjoyed it."
The focus was on conditioning and mastering the fundamentals of scrummaging, crucial against a team like Italy that thrives in forward play.As the Boks continue their preparation, all eyes are on Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who is set to announce his lineup on Tuesday. With Italy showing no signs of backing down, Saturday's game is shaping up to be a scrum-lover's dream and a crucial test for both teams.