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South Africa vs Italy Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction

Venue: Nelson Mandela Stadium Kickoff Time: 17:10 (CAT Time) The second of two tests against the Italians takes place at Nelson Mandela Stadium on Saturday, 12 July. The Boks will be confident of another strong home showing to close off their preparation ahead of the Rugby Championship. But for their visitors, they will no doubt see this as another chance to test their ability against the best in the world. For fans wanting to place some online rugby betting, we suggest always consulting reputable sportsbooks.

Ryan Liberty
Ryan Liberty

Last updated: 2025-07-04

Chad Nagel

5 minutes read

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Pieter-Steph Du Toit of South Africa hands off Jayden Hayward of Italy

Pieter-Steph Du Toit of South Africa hands off Jayden Hayward of Italy//Getty Images

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability

The early online betting suggests that the Boks will once again run through their Italian visitors!

  1. South Africa: 1/14 (1.07) – 93%

  2. Italy: 14/1 (15.00) – 6%

    Forecast odds - betting available on 1Win closer to match 

Head-To-Head Record

Last three meetings 

  1. 19/11/2022: South Africa 63-21 Italy 

  2. 04/10/2019: South Africa 49-3 Italy

  3. 25/11/2017: Italy 6–35 South Africa 

South Africa Current Form – LWWWW

There is no denying the fact that the Springboks are in red-hot form at the moment. They come into this second test off the back of yet another demolition job against the Barbarians and Italy last time out. 
They have always been a side with a strong reliance on their forward pack and happy to transfer pressure at set piece time. However, to add even more impotence to their ability, the arrival of Tony Brown has added an attacking nuance and fluidity that makes this South African side even more dangerous. 

Key Players to Watch

  • Pieter-Steph du Toit 
    He is a world class flanker and currently seen as the best player in world rugby. He will likely dominate amongst the forwards and add incredible value to the battle at the breakdown. Keep an eye on him here.
  • Handre Pollard 
    If he gets back into this starting lineup, expect a big showing from the veteran number 10. His experience provides leadership and reliability even at the most difficult times. He has a fight on his hands for his position and so, expect him to flex his experience and ability here.
  • Cheslin Kolbe 
    What more does one say about Kolbe? He is arguably amongst the most dynamic players in the world at the moment and whether it is broken play or patient build ups, he is an absolute nightmare for defending teams.

Italy Current Form – LWLLL

The Italians come into this fixture off the back of a mixed bag of results. There is no denying that the improvement in their ability is there for all to see, but they seemingly struggle to replicate their best rugby against good opponents. 
Their structure and discipline make them a tough side to break down at times, but their lack of consistency will always count against them in big moments.

Key Players to Watch

  • Michele Lamaro
    He will likely lead by example once again here, welcoming the physical battle of the South Africans while also seeing his side take the game to their opponents. He will have a big role to play in their broken play, so keep an eye on him here.
  • Paolo Garbisi
    His attacking vision is without question, but whether or not he is able to bring that aspect of his game to an environment of physical and dominant opposition remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Italy will look to him for all of their points.
  • Tommaso Menoncello
    The youngster keeps attracting the attention of the rugby community. His performances are consistent and bring with them a powerful and aggressive physicality to his attacking endevours. Keep a look out for his attacking advances here.

Suggested Bets

  1. South Africa (-32.5): The Boks have shown very little mercy in their more recent encounters, back them to claim another impressive win on home soil here. 

  2. Total Points (Over 48.5): If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it! This betting angle once again suggests incredible value. The attacking nature of the hosts and the insecurity of their Italian visitors suggests getting stuck into the points market once again here

Value Bets

  1. Pollard (Highest point scorer): Given his attacking flair as well as his ultra-consistent kicking ability, backing Pollard to come with the greatest number of points scored on the day seems a set bet.

  2. Italy (First Try Scored): Once again we are backing the visitors to get off to a flying start here and open the scoring.

Prediction: Springboks to Win

The hosts are simply primed and ready to produce another commanding display in front of their home fans. The power of their forward pack, coupled with the expansive nature of their backline, make this side a formidable challenge for any opponent. 
Back them to come away with yet another statement victory here. If you're looking to get in on the action, don’t miss the best signup bonus sports betting offers available ahead of kickoff.

Ryan Liberty
Ryan LibertyBetting Writer

Ryan Liberty is an experienced sports writer whose articles have featured in some of the biggest sports publications in South Africa. With a strong understanding of all major sports and an in-depth understanding of betting, Ryan consistently delivers insightful content. He's also known for his ability to break down complex topics into engaging, reader-friendly pieces.