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Springboks training on the field, 9 July 2025.
Springbok wing Edwill van der Merwe says the presence of veteran fullback Willie le Roux will provide him with the assurance to play his natural game tomorrow afternoon.
Van der Merwe will make his second appearance against Italy.
He made his first appearance more than a year ago against Wales at Twickenham in England.
It will be his first test at home, in front of South African supporters, as well as his family, and will form a back three with le Roux and veteran Makamole Mapimpi.
He’s acknowledged that Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe have cemented their place as first choice wingers, but says he wants to focus on his own game and stick to the game plan.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has carefully selected his starting troops.
All his back line players know what is expected of them, which is to spread the ball wide to feed wingers.
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok says he’s excited to return to No. 10, while Willie le Roux is set for his 100th cap when South Africa face Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday.
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They had been training hard this week, embarking on intense tactics; they all aim to destabilize Azzuri forwards and win front football for back line players.
Van der Merwe says the mood in the training camp has been good and solid, while Erasmus put emphasis on their mental strength.
“A guy like Willie brings a lot of experience and Mapimpi has helped me a lot with the small areas of my game. It’s just about leaning on those guys for advice and some tricks of the trade. They’ve been there and done that, so playing with them gives me a lot of confidence,” says van der Merwe.
The legends of the game as well as sport commentators, say the Boks will prove to be too strong for the Italians and will match their tempo.
Former Springbok manager Zola Yeye says they have beaten them before with a big score.
“I don’t see why we cannot do the same, we are playing in the Eastern Cape and rugby is big here, it will be revived, you saw the team that has been selected. Rassie means business and yes, we were poor in the second half, but it’s where we are going to beat them, physically. They brought a team, but that is not the point.”
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