Springboks’ opponents for 2025 mid-year internationals revealed – report
The Springboks are set to take on Italy in back-to-back home Tests as part of their 2025 mid-year international programme, according to South African media reports.
After facing Ireland in a closely contested two-Test series in South Africa earlier this year, the world champions will take on less stronger opposition in the form of the Azzurri in July next year.
Sunday newspaper Rapport reports that the Springboks’ matches with Italy will take place at the same time that the Wallabies and All Blacks will host the British & Irish Lions and France in their respective three-Tests series in 2025.
Boks to face a tier two nation in South Africa as well
Apart from the matches against Italy, the Boks are also set to host a tier two nation in South Africa.
This year Rassie Erasmus‘ troops took on Portugal in Bloemfontein and sealed a 64-21 victory and according to Rapport, Georgia are the favourites to face the Boks on South African soil next year.
Meanwhile, in the Rugby Championship, South Africa are will face Australia in back-to-back home Tests in 2025, while they will also take on New Zealand in two away Tests as well as a home and an away match against Argentina.
The cities which will host South Africa’s home international are yet to be decided and Erasmus is expected to have the biggest input in selecting those venues.
Springboks’ versatile World Cup winner names the position he wants to settle on
Although they will not be as strong as Ireland were during their drawn two-Test series against the Boks earlier this year, Italy are one of the most improved teams in the world.
They currently occupy eighth position in World Rugby’s official rankings and their 2024 Six Nations campaign was their best ever since they joined the famous northern hemisphere tournament in 2000.
Impressed in the Six Nations
Under the guidance of head coach Gonzalo Quesada, the Azzurri finished in fifth position after clinching two out of five victories in the championship.
Quesada’s charges started with a narrow loss against England (27-24) before losing heavily to eventual champions Ireland (36-0) but finished impressively as they drew with France (13-13), before beating Scotland (31-29) and Wales (24-21).
Since 1995, the Springboks have faced the Azzurri in 16 Tests with the Boks winning 15 and Italy one.
Italy’s solitary victory was registered in Florence in 2016 (20-18) and the last time the teams clashed in South Africa was in 2013 when they Boks sealed a 44-10 win in Durban.