Ruzza warns Italy to ‘expect the unexpected’ against unpredictable Springboks

Italy’s confidence may be at an all-time high after toppling Australia for only the second time in their history last weekend, but the Azzurri know they face an entirely different challenge when they meet the Springboks in Turin on Saturday.

Federico Ruzza, the versatile Benetton forward who has become one of Italy’s most consistent performers, believes South Africa’s biggest threat lies not only in their brute strength but also in their unpredictability.

“We know what kind of team South Africa is, and they always try to bring something different to every match,” Ruzza said this week.

“Everyone talks about their physical presence and consistency, but we mustn’t forget that they’re an unpredictable team. What will make the difference is the clarity with which we approach the various game situations.”

That unpredictability was on full display earlier this year when the Boks swept Italy aside twice – 42-24 in Pretoria and 45-0 in Gqeberha – a power-dominated forward performance at Loftus followed by a ruthless counter-attacking display on the coast. For Ruzza, the lesson is simple: expect the unexpected.

The Italians head into the clash buoyed by a 26-19 win over the Wallabies in Udine, a match in which they overturned a seven-point deficit in the final quarter through tries by Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane.

The victory reaffirmed the progress made under coach Gonzalo Quesada, whose emphasis on composure and precision has helped transform Italy from an adventurous but erratic outfit into one capable of closing out tight contests.

“Against Australia we did well by staying united, focused and showing the right attitude,” Ruzza said.

“We stayed in the game with precision and the desire to regain control of the match. But we can still be a little more precise. We could have done better.”

That insistence on improvement reflects a squad that refuses to be satisfied with a single upset win. Quesada’s men believe their best route to challenging the Boks is not to match their muscle but to impose structure and clarity on their play in moments of chaos.

South Africa, meanwhile, arrive in northern Italy in experimental mood after rotating their squad during the European tour – and there’s every chance Rassie Erasmus will again spring a tactical surprise.

The Boks have shown in recent seasons that unpredictability is a deliberate weapon: employing a kicking game one week, then switching to a running game the next.

For Italy, coping with that shifting challenge will demand defensive discipline and composure under the high ball – areas where they were often found wanting during their mid-year defeats. Ruzza insists they are better equipped to deal with that now.

“We know South Africa’s strength, and we’ll need to be even more effective,” he said.

“I think overall it was a quality performance against Australia, but we can still do a little more to disrupt the opposition’s play. It’s always right to strive to improve and give more.”

If there’s optimism in the Italian camp, it’s rooted in their growing ability to stay in contests for longer periods.

Still, matching the Boks physically over 80 minutes remains a daunting ask – even the French couldn’t do it with an extra man after lock Lood de Jager saw red.

Whether Italy can withstand that Bok storm and still produce moments of clarity may decide if Saturday’s match at the Allianz Stadium becomes another footnote in Bok dominance or another marker of the Azzurri’s quiet rise.