SOUTH AFRICA blew the cobwebs away in their final match before the Tri-Nations with a seven-try rout of Italy 55-11 in the second Test at East London.
Morne Steyn set the platform for victory with the game’s opening 20 points, including two tries, as the Springboks produced a far more convincing display after their 29-13 win over the Azzurri last weekend.
Steyn’s early match-winning burst, plus a try from Pierre Spies, fired the hosts into a 27-6 half-time lead, with Mirco Bergamasco adding a pair of penalties for outclassed Italy.
The Springboks then broke the game apart after the interval with Jannie du Plessis, Bryan Habana, Flip van der Merwe and BJ Botha touching down.
Steyn finished with a match haul of 26 points after a perfect seven-from-seven kicks.
Winger Michele Sepe provided a consolation try for Italy when he scored in the 66th minute, but the Springboks easily wrapped up a 2-0 series win to fill them with confidence ahead of their opening game of the Tri-Nations against New Zealand in a fortnight.
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers made a number of changes from the first Test, highlighted by the returns of skipper John Smit and Schalk Burger from injury.
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