logo
Is South Africa v Italy on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Springboks

Is South Africa v Italy on TV? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch Springboks

Independent12-07-2025
South Africa will be seeking an improved performance amid significant rotation as they take on Italy in the second Test in Gqeberha.
The Springboks were pushed hard by their visitors in their opening encounter last weekend, with the Azzurri finishing strongly to deny the hosts their typical second-half surge.
Home coach Rassie Erasmus shuffles his side as he continues to build depth, while Gonzalo Quesada also freshens up his Italy line-up as his side seek a statement result.
Can they cause a shock by beating the world champions in their own backyard?
Here's everything you need to know.
When is South Africa vs Italy?
South Africa vs Italy is due to kick off at 4.10pm BST on Saturday 12 July at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Action, with coverage from 3.50pm BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.
Team news
Willie le Roux becomes the eighth centurion for the Springboks as the full-back wins cap number 100 for South Africa in a side containing plenty of experience. There is still no Siya Kolisi, though, with Salmaan Moerat skippering from the second row. Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie form a new-look centre partnership outside of Manie Libbok, stationed at fly half.
Debuts, meanwhile, await giant tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye, sizeable lock Cobus Wiese and comparatively compact centre Ethan Hooker off the bench.
There are five changes for Italy as Niccolo Cannone captains again following an impressive showing in Pretoria last Saturday. Full-back Mirko Belloni contrasts with his opposite number Le Roux in making his first international start on what is just his second cap, with Louis Lynagh and Jacopo Trulla comprising the rest of the back three.
Sebastian Negri is a welcome returnee on the flank in a balanced back row with Manuel Zuliani and Ross Vintcent, while there are six forwards on the bench ready to provide impact again.
Line-ups
South Africa XV: 1 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw; 4 Salmaan Moerat (capt.), 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Marco van Staden, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Grant Williams, 10 Manie Libbok; 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Canan Moodie, 14 Edwill van der Merwe; 15 Willie le Roux.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Evan Roos; 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.
Italy XV: 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 3 Simone Ferrari; 4 Niccolo Cannone (capt.), 5 Andrea Zambonin; 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Ross Vintcent; 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 10 Giacomo Da Re; 11 Jacopo Trulla, 12 Marco Zanon, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 14 Louis Lynagh; 15 Mirko Belloni.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How Red Bull's billions can revolutionise rugby: Energy drink giant conquered F1 and shook up football, so it's no wonder Newcastle are buzzing after takeover
How Red Bull's billions can revolutionise rugby: Energy drink giant conquered F1 and shook up football, so it's no wonder Newcastle are buzzing after takeover

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

How Red Bull's billions can revolutionise rugby: Energy drink giant conquered F1 and shook up football, so it's no wonder Newcastle are buzzing after takeover

With a reputation for innovation and unparallelled success in their other sporting ventures, Red Bull's takeover of Newcastle Falcons — which was finally completed on Tuesday — has the potential to completely transform an English rugby club with huge potential. 'I'm not suggesting motorcycles will be coming off the roof in the first game,' said director of rugby Steve Diamond, the man in charge of the team now officially known as Newcastle Red Bulls. 'But I think moving forward, it's an entertainment package which is exciting for rugby, not just Newcastle. I think it's going to be a huge positive. There's a buzz around the place. 'This is not going to be a sleeping giant any more. It's been awoken.' These are changing times in professional rugby, particularly with plans for a breakaway league gathering momentum. Now Red Bull — with an overall company value worth in the region of £26billion — has entered the equation. Newcastle will hope the energy drink conglomerate can help turn them from Premiership strugglers into potential trophy winners. But it is unlikely to happen overnight. But history tells us Red Bull don't mess about. When they first entered Formula One in 2005, they were written off as jokers by their competitors. Now, two decades later and with eight drivers' championships and six constructors' championships in the bag, no one is laughing. Red Bull have also shaken up the football industry in Leipzig, New York and Salzburg, among other places. They will hope to have an impact in this season's Premier League too with Leeds United, a team in which they have a minority share. Their entry into rugby union is fascinating. Red Bull's mantra is: 'The can is the star, not the man.' They see being a part of professional sport as a way of selling more of their famous product. That might seem crude or rather simplistic, but it is true. However, it is also about far more than pure marketing. In F1, with the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, Red Bull became a winning machine. Given Newcastle have won just two Premiership games in two years and been in desperate need of fresh investment, Red Bull's arrival could not have come at a better time. It is no wonder the great and the good of English rugby have welcomed the sea change. Oliver Mintzlaff has a catchy title at Red Bull as their chief executive of corporate projects and investments. He is the big cheese in the company's sporting arm and is understood to have played a key role in the decision to dispense with the services of Christian Horner as the man in charge of their F1 team. 'Together, we aim to elevate rugby to new heights and deliver unforgettable moments for our fans,' Mintzlaff said. 'We're delighted to have acquired Newcastle Red Bulls and look forward to empowering the club to reach its full competitive potential.' Diamond was more reserved than his usual effusive self when facing the media on Tuesday just an hour after the Red Bull deal was officially confirmed. He was keen to keep initial expectations realistic, aware the takeover timing means he cannot go and spend the millions of fresh investment instantly. Newcastle's squad for this season, despite some new arrivals, still looks thin after the departures of Callum Chick and Jamie Blamire. Diamond confirmed Newcastle won't be signing Louis Rees-Zammit, the Wales wing now back in rugby after he left the NFL. 'All players are going to be of interest now. But at this moment in time, we're just looking at the short term of this season,' Diamond said. 'He (Rees-Zammit) won't be joining us for this season.' In the coming weeks, Newcastle will release a new badge and kit to reflect their Red Bull takeover. Interest in ticket sales for the new campaign has skyrocketed. After all, we all know Red Bull — to use their own slogan — 'gives you wings'. Newcastle Red Bulls are unlikely to soar to immediate success. But in the short term, what the takeover does do is provide financial stability after two years of monetary worries. Looking further ahead, the club should now be able to attract higher quality players, thus improving the chances of success. In time, Diamond will surely spend on recruitment. However, he also wisely emphasised the club's need to improve their training facilities and academy set-up as more immediate priorities. Newcastle said they plan on 'delivering a world-class fan experience and embracing the innovative approach Red Bull has brought to its sports initiatives across the world'. Simon Massie-Taylor, Premiership chief executive, described Newcastle's announcement as 'a landmark moment for our sport' while his RFU counterpart Bill Sweeney was equally glowing. Fresh investment is what English rugby has been crying out for and this is it. 'We are hugely excited by Red Bull's ambition for the club which includes developing the player pathway in the North East and growing the club's fanbase,' Massie-Taylor said. 'Their track record in global sport, from high-performance expertise to world-class marketing, will bring enormous value.' Diamond added: 'We'll be looking at world-class facilities, world-class players and world-class coaches coming to Newcastle over the next three or four years to really hopefully dominate in the future. It's just the start of a fantastic new beginning for Newcastle Red Bulls. 'We can see green shoots. Some people have been here four or five years with very little success and very little to shout about. I'm not suggesting we can win the league, certainly not in year one or two. We're not going to spend money if we don't need to.' Red Bull's sporting record means they are unlikely to stand for Newcastle being the Premiership's whipping boys for long. You have to go back to the 1997-98 season for Newcastle's only Premiership title to date — a triumph borne from the backing of Sir John Hall and with a young Jonny Wilkinson in their side. Now, hopes are high Red Bull can have a similar impact and do in rugby what they have done in F1 and football. The next months and years promise much. And in a city where Newcastle United, backed by the billions of Saudi Arabia, have lifted a trophy in football once again, the hope is rugby can now follow suit. 'This future-proofs the professional game in the North East,' Diamond said. 'Red Bull's track record shows they do that in all areas. There will be some bumps in the road, no doubt, but they've been totally professional up to now and I've no doubt they will be. 'I think they see rugby as an exciting new part of their portfolio. 'You can't just rush out and spend money. It never really works. But we're obviously thankful Newcastle has got new investors and the future will be brighter than it has been. 'A successful Newcastle Red Bulls will generate a huge amount of support in this region.'

Australia look to dogs of war in Ellis Park battle against Springboks
Australia look to dogs of war in Ellis Park battle against Springboks

Reuters

time2 hours ago

  • Reuters

Australia look to dogs of war in Ellis Park battle against Springboks

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Australia know they will be in for a fierce fight when they face South Africa at Ellis Park in their Rugby Championship opener on Saturday, but will have power and experience to call on for the showdown in Johannesburg. World champions South Africa, who are also Rugby Championship holders, will be favourites in the fixture but Australia, buoyed by a 22-12 victory over the British & Irish Lions last time out, are fired up for the challenge. They should have the key trio of loose-forward Rob Valetini, lock Will Skelton and prop Taniela Tupou fit for Saturday, while experienced scrumhalf Nic White has postponed his international retirement to answer an SOS and tour. "You've got the Great Dane, Will Skelton, and then you've got the little Jack Russell (White)," Australia loose forward Tom Hooper told reporters on Tuesday. "Jack Russell is sometimes a little bit more fiery and he's nipping at the heels of those boys. He loves not taking a backward step. And whoever's picked in that gold jersey, that's the kind of spirit that we want to play with going forward. You can see it inspires a 23 on the field. "We've got to make sure that the 23 blokes (in the match-day squad) are looking after each other and we can't take a backwards step." South Africa have powerful forwards, even if they are using their electric backs more and more these days, and the giant Skelton will be a big boost in standing up to the physical challenge. "Anyone who's picked in the jersey alongside him will follow him into battle, that's for sure," Hooper added. "He's an enforcer. That's what he's been doing for a long time. "For want of a better word, he loves being that grub. He loves taking it to teams physically. Making the gentlemen's game a little bit more exciting. We love playing with him. He's just a physical presence."

Will Red Bull give Newcastle wings? Not just yet…
Will Red Bull give Newcastle wings? Not just yet…

Times

time3 hours ago

  • Times

Will Red Bull give Newcastle wings? Not just yet…

The sleeping giant of Newcastle is awake, but don't expect it to stomp all over England for a few years yet. That was the message from Steve Diamond as the Falcons became the Red Bulls, and the English top flight's northeastern outpost confirmed their revolution. The arrival of Red Bull relieves debt concerns and reinvigorates optimism at the club who have finished bottom of the league for three successive campaigns, operating well below the salary cap and losing local talent. Far from joining London Irish, Wasps and Worcester Warriors in going bust, Newcastle are now part of the sporting arm of a multinational conglomerate — alongside cycling, Formula 1 and football teams — that counts in billions rather than loose change. Six weeks out from the season's start, there is scant opportunity to revolutionise the playing staff for 2025-26. The club have brought in George McGuigan, Freddie Clarke, Jamie Hodgson, Amanaki Mafi and Simón Benítez Cruz, having offloaded the England internationals Jamie Blamire, Callum Chick and Adam Radwan — northerners all, in search of ambition elsewhere.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store