Flannery: “We respect Italy enormously”

Jerry Flannery spoke highly about Italy ahead of their opening match of the Nations Championship Northern Series against Italy in Turin on Saturday, saying they are a quality team with a strong set piece and dangerous backs, with the Springbok assistant coach making it clear that they expect a massive battle against the Azzuri.

The Springboks may be ranked first in the world, with Italy in 11th place but Flannery said they posed challenging threats with their forward pack and among their backs, which the Boks would have to contain to get the desired result this weekend.

Italy will be missing several key players due to injury including Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, and Sebastian Negri, among others, but Flannery was adamant that they would still field a strong outfit for the encounter, with players who will bring a different dimension to the team.

“We still respect them enormously – when they came to Pretoria last year, they were also missing key players and ran us very closely,” said Flannery.

“They have a really strong set-piece. In fact, their scrum was probably among the best in the Six Nations and that gives them a significant platform.

“They’re also a very well-coached team that does the basics extremely well. They still have players like Ange Capuozzo, who can break a game open from nothing.

“Brex is a really good footballer and Menoncello is one of the best centres in the world but they’ve shown real squad depth, and going into a World Cup year, giving more players caps will benefit them long term, so we’re looking at defending them as a team, not just individuals.”

Commenting on what the Boks are expecting from them this weekend, the former Irish hooker, said: “If your players don’t make their first-time tackles, Italy will make metres, and that’s what we saw in Pretoria as well.

“They have a strong kicking game, with players like Paolo Garbisi, who has an excellent left foot and they have good aerial players, so we need to be strong in that area. And if there are any scraps off the back of their kicking game, Capuozzo can create something from nothing, so controlling those areas will be key.”

With the top nations from the northern and southern hemisphere set to face one another in the Finals Weekend in London at the end of the month, with the next ranked teams also lining up against one another in each hemisphere in the lead-up to the final match on Sunday, 29 November, Flannery said he believed this tour is similar to playing play-off rugby.

“I think the tour is a good representation of what’s coming heading into a World Cup year,” said Flannery.

“The squad must get together and play games consistently in a short period of time. We’re not yet sure how much we’ll rotate through this period, but for me it’s almost like knockout rugby – the group stages, Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and Final. It’s that kind of intensity.”

The Bok assistant coach, however, was confident that the players were gelling well following two training sessions so far this week and given the fact that they have been together for most of the international season.

“I don't think it’s easy but I believe it’s fairly similar for most teams competing in the Nations Championship,” said Flannery.

“We were together for a long time previously and a lot of the current squad were part of that entire period. Obviously, you always want to evolve but a lot of what we worked on is still fairly fresh in the players’ minds, so it’s a case of getting them together and not overloading them but reminding them about how we do things when we are in Bok camp.”

Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, who will partner up with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the halfback combination, was equally excited about returning to the field in the green and gold.

“I’m really enjoying it – my body feels good and I feel sharp,” said Van den Berg.

“When you get the opportunity to represent the Springboks, it’s incredible. Every time you get the call-up, you want to take it with both hands. So, to be able to play more is an absolute blessing. And when I play for my club, that’s also an opportunity to put my hand up and show what I can do. To play more at both levels is massive.”

Van den Berg added that the competition between himself, Grant Williams, who is on the bench on Saturday and Cobus Reinach was also healthy and allowed them to push one another even more to be at their best: “It’s good. We really push and help each other and that’s the standard we’ll always drive. So, the competition is strong and I think that only benefits the team.”

The match kicks off at 1.40pm (SAST) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt); 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat; 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Paul de Villiers, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.

Italy v South Africa @ Allianz Stadium, Turin - Saturday @ 1.40pm

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR)

Assistant Referee 2: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)