Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The danger of peerless Parisse and his Azzurri
But don’t forget about meneers Venter, Van Schalkwyk and Steyn
EVEN with the Springboks struggling to save face at the moment, South African fans can rest easy this weekend – they will beat Italy.
Or will they? The Boks have won 12 out of 12 Tests since the first clash in 1995 in Rome, and average 50 points every time they face the Azzurri. So surely today’s latest instalment at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence is a done deal, but considering the current malaise, there are no guarantees.
In fact, despite the 68-10 drubbing at the hands of the All Blacks last week, Italy possess some top players, and a few South Africans who would be keen to put one over the motherland.
Former Ireland fullback Conor O’Shea took over from Frenchman Jacques Brunel as Italy’s head coach this year, and he has a few current and former South Africans involved in his management – Mike Catt, Marius Goosen and Brendan Venter.
But these are the Italians (and South Africans) that Bok coach Allister Coetzee and his team have to look out for... Luke Mclean (Inside centre, 82 Test caps) Mclean, who was born and bred in Queensland, Australia, qualifies for the Azzurri as his grandparents on his mother’s side were Italian. He made his Test debut against the Boks at Newlands in 2008.
He first made his name as a flyhalf and fullback, and now lines up at No 12. Standing 1.90m and 95kg, Mclean is a solid specimen renowned for a massive left boot, while his passing game can also bring width to the backline.
He is a strong defender, but can he handle Damian de Allende? Sergio Parisse (No 8, 120 caps) Arguably the best-ever Italian rugby player. Yes, long- time flyhalf Diego Dominguez put the Azzurri on the map, but in terms of actual skill and global status, Parisse is without peer in Italy.
A classic linking No 8 who made his Test debut at the age of 18, Parisse runs fantastic lines, is ruthless in defence and is a brilliant playmaker in the loose trio.
He is the talisman for Italy and if the Boks want to snuff out any chance of an upset, they will have to keep the 33-year-old skipper quiet. Dries van Schalkwyk (Lock, six caps) Known more as a loose forward when he played in South Africa, Van Schalkwyk came through at Boland after leaving his native Bloemfontein and the Cheetahs. After a turn at the Bulls, things didn’t work out back home, but a move to Zebre in Italy has seen the 31- year- old qualify for the Azzurri through residency.
A powerful ball- carrier, Van Schalkwyk has the nearly impossible task of marking Lood de Jager and Pieter-Steph du Toit in the lineout, as they are both over two metres tall, while he is just 1.93m. Lorenzo Cittadini (Tighthead prop, 51 caps) A giant of a man at 1.91m and 124kg, Cittadini is as tough as they come in the No 3 jersey. He is a superb scrummager and will look to put Tendai Mtawarira under pressure. Cittadini makes his tackles as well, although he is not as mobile as his predecessor, the iconic Martin Castrogiovanni. Abraham Steyn (Loose forward, four caps) Braam Steyn was actually part of the South African Under20 side who won the 2012 Junior World Championship at Newlands. The big No 8 had to play off the bench behind Fabian Booysen, Du Toit, Shaun Adendorff and captain Wiaan Liebenberg.
Steyn attended Paul Roos, but joined the Sharks after school before making the big move to Italy in late 2012. He served his residency period and made his Test debut in this year’s Six Nations against England in February.
The 24-year-old will hope to get some game time against some of his former Baby Bok teammates Du Toit and Steven Kitshoff. Tommaso Allan (Flyhalf, 25 caps) The much- travelled Tommy Allan is the nephew of former Bok and Scotland hooker John Allan. His father is Scottish and mother Italian, and Tommaso was born in Italy.
But the 23-year-old had an exciting youth, playing for the Wasps Academy in London, before spending time at Glenwood High in KwaZulu-Natal.
Allan, then joined Western Province for two seasons, winning the U19 provincial competition, before joining French Top 14 side Perpignan.
He represented Scotland in all the age-groups up until U20 level. But with a Scottish Test cap probably a few years away, he jumped at the opportunity to play at the highest level for the land of his birth, making his debut against Australia in late 2013.
So with some South African links, Allan would be keen to make an impact against the Boks.
He is regarded as an allround playmaker, although his goal-kicking is inconsistent.