Italy may provide a stiff challenge this weekend, but for the Springboks, the goal is more about upholding their own standards.
The competition within the squad has become such a rallying point for the Boks that the external expectations aren’t that much of a concern anymore, but rather the fact that they meet the high standards they have set for themselves.
And while the Home Nations are touring as the British and Irish Lions this year and France are in New Zealand, the Boks know there is an expectation to win all three of their Castle Lager Incoming Tour test matches comfortably. Still, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the Boks would rather focus on their own tasks as a team, and the road they are on in preparing for their big title defence in Australia in 2027.
These tests represent another step on that road for the side, and their own high standards are what are driving them.
INTERNAL GOALS DRIVING BOKS
Flyhalf Handre Pollard pointed this out on Wednesday, saying that while the Boks won’t underestimate Italy at all, there are goals that the team have set themselves that they need to achieve.
Handre Pollard will start in the 🔟 jersey this weekend against Italy.
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 2, 2025
Loftus will also be his new home after signing with the Bulls for the new season 🟦#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/MiUl0HPGKW
“It is big. We can’t underestimate this Italian team. They are not part of the British and Irish Lions and they are coming here with their strong guys and we need to front up to that. It is a great test for us, and like I said earlier, we are working on a lot of stuff,” Pollard said.
“We set ourselves new standards and it is up to us to go and test ourselves at a high level against this Italian team. As much as there are changes and rotations in the team, we have Springbok standards that we have to hold ourselves accountable to, and that is what we are going to do every single week.”
Pollard wasn’t about to write off Italy in any way and knows full well that any complacency can be the team’s undoing.
NOT UNDERESTIMATING ITALY
“Italy is a good team, we are not going to underestimate anything they will bring to the party, they are physical and passionate and we know we have to put in the hard yards first before the pretty stuff happens. It will be a tough start to the game, but we are ready for that, and we will see what happens from there,” he explained.
🗣️ "It's not a conservative team contrary to what people are saying."
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 1, 2025
Rassie Erasmus explains his team selection for the Italy test at Loftus this weekend.#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/AnbDgvmYer
“Just analysing them this week, they are a team with a lot of threats. Menoncello is unbelievable and is probably the best centre in Europe at the moment. There are a lot of threats there, and we have to stop that first, which is important.
"They are an evolving team, if you look at their results over the past few years, they have got a few very good wins, a couple of close scores against top teams in the world. They are on the rise, and you can see the belief in their team and it is up to us to stop that.”
The Boks know they will have to be at their best to stop the Italian threat, but more than that, they need to do that and achieve their own goals. Only then will a victory be a success, no matter the scoreline.