World champions South Africa are gearing up to host Italy in a two-Test series next month, with matches scheduled in Pretoria and Gqeberha. The first clash will take place at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday, 5 July, followed by a second Test at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha a week later.
In addition, the Springboks will welcome Georgia, a strong second-tier nation, for a Test match on Saturday, 19 July at Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela. All games will kick off at 17:10 South African time.
Currently, South Africa leads the World Rugby rankings, with Italy ranked 11th and Georgia 12th, setting the stage for some intriguing contests.
Historically, South Africa has dominated Italy, winning 15 out of 16 matches since their first meeting in Rome in 1995—the year the Springboks claimed their first Rugby World Cup title. Their most recent encounter was in Genoa in 2022, where South Africa secured a commanding 63-21 victory.
Here’s a quick look at the Springboks’ impressive record against Italy over the years:
- 1995 (Rome): Won 40-21
- 1999 (Durban): Won 101-0
- 2010 (East London): Won 55-11
- 2014 (Padua): Won 22-6
- 2022 (Genoa): Won 63-21
Only once did Italy come close, narrowly defeating South Africa 20-18 in Florence back in 2016.
Against Georgia, the Springboks have maintained a perfect record, winning both prior meetings. They defeated Georgia at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Sydney and again in Pretoria in 2021.
