Rassie Erasmus’s tactical genius inspires dogged Boks win

Rassie Erasmus gave a coaching tactical and substitution master class as the Springboks beat Italy in Turin, writes Mark Keohane.

What next for World Rugby and the Boks? 12 v 15?

The Boks were too strong for France in Paris, winning 32-17 despite playing for 30 minutes 14 versus 15.

In Turin, the Boks were down to 14 players after Franco Mostert’s straight red in the 11th minute.

It was a shocking call and for 10 minutes the Boks were 13-15 when Marco van Staden was sin-binned, but this was a win down to sheer heart, guts, determination from the players and Erasmus’s tactical appreciation of the match, his knowledge of his players and his understanding that change comes in the moment and not once the damage could be done, and then it being too late.

These Boks have ticker, but they also have a rugby genius at the helm, who is three moves ahead of the opposition.

Italy were brave and resolute. They were in the face of the Boks and physically they did not take a step back. They have improved immeasurably, but the reality is that for all the fire in their belly they are now three wins from 10 matches this season, including three successive defeats against the Boks in 2025.

There was the 42-24 reverse in Pretoria and week later they were done 45-0.

For 31 minutes there was no score in Turin, but what made that so significant is that Italy had so much of the ball, territory and a one-player advantage, but had nothing to show for it.

The Boks, showing their class, scored first through a Handre Pollard penalty after his successful drop goal was ruled out because of an earlier infringement and then Van Staden scored a game changing try on the 39th minute.

Given that the Boks entered the Italian 22 for the first time after 30 minutes, it was a massive moment in the match.

Italy, as they have done all season, did not go away, but they were just not good enough to handle 13 Boks, when gifted a two player advantage.

For the Boks, Damian Willemse was class at fullback and Kwagga Smith made the most impact off the bench.

Van Staden was everywhere and Ruan Nortje, off the bench early to give balance to the remaining players, just gets better at Test level and Grant Williams and Manie Libbok added the last quarter glitz to the first hour grind.

The Boks won under such adversity, which emphatically states their class as the sport’s No 1 team.

FOR ALL SPRINGBOKS REACTION, GO TO SA RUGBY MAGAZINE

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