Jerry Flannery hopes Springboks' defence 'pitch up on the day' in Nations Championship

The Springboks are expected to deliver a strong opening performance in the Nations Championship against a depleted Italy in Turin on Saturday. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has fielded a team brimming with experience, quality and World Cup winners, highlighting their ambition to secure a convincing victory. Despite injuries to key players like Cheslin Kolbe, André Esterhuizen, Eben Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith and Handré Pollard, the Boks remain overwhelming favorites, leveraging their depth to counterbalance the Italian squad's shortcomings.

However, the Boks will approach the match with caution, mindful of their own history of a decisive defeat to Italy in 2016. Italy, on the other hand, faces a daunting task with 16 players unavailable, including midfielders Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, and captain Michele Lamaro. This weakened lineup poses a significant challenge for the hosts, who will rely on discipline and bravery to mount a competitive effort against the formidable Springbok team.

For Italy, the match serves as a crucial test of character and ability, showcasing their progress in recent years against one of the most formidable opponents in world rugby. The Springboks, however, are expected to seize the opportunity to set a commanding tone in the Nations Championship, with a dominant performance and a healthy winning margin being the ideal start to the tournament.