The South Africa Springboks are currently hosting Italy in the first of two summer test matches at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. The Springboks have fielded a veteran-heavy lineup, notably recalling Eben Etzebeth to the starting XV, while Italy are featuring younger talents like Tommaso Menoncello and Danilo Fischetti, with Jacopo Trulla—who scored a hat-trick against Namibia last week—starting at full-back[1].
The Springboks entered this fixture after a dominant 54-7 win over the Barbarians in Cape Town, reflecting their strong form leading into the summer. Italy, on the other hand, built momentum with a 73-6 win against Namibia. This test marks the start of a busy month for South Africa, with matches against Italy (again on July 12) and Georgia (July 19) scheduled before the Rugby Championship later this year[2][4].
The last meeting between South Africa and Italy was in the 2022 autumn internationals, which South Africa won 63-21. Italy’s only victory over the Springboks came in 2016[4]. Today’s game is being streamed live, with fans encouraged to follow updates and highlights through various platforms, including FloRugby and YouTube. For those unable to watch live, FloRugby is also offering match archives and replays[1][6][8].
Kick-off for the Springboks vs. Italy Test is scheduled for 5:10 PM CAT (3:10 PM GMT, 11:10 AM ET). Rassie Erasmus has emphasized the significance of this test, recalling World Cup winners and acknowledging the challenge presented by a resurgent Italian team[1][4].
References
- [1] South Africa Springboks Vs. Italy Rugby Score, Lineups, Live Stream – FloRugby
- [2] Springboks vs Barbarians – ESPN
- [4] SPRINGBOKS V ITALY LIVE STREA.Ms 5th. JuLY. 2025 – Eventbrite
- [6] Italy vs South Africa Live Watchalong & Commentary – YouTube
- [8] South Africa Springboks Vs. Italy Rugby Score, Live Updates – FloRugby