Italy v Springboks prediction: Azzurri pose ‘delicious challenge’ but ‘perfect class act’ can dig-out Rassie Erasmus if score becomes ‘uncomfortably tight’

When the Autumn Nations Series schedule was confirmed ages ago, Italy versus the Springboks wasn’t a fixture that jumped off the page.

But it now deserves attention before rugby fans gorge themselves later on Saturday with blockbusters in the guise of England-New Zealand and Ireland-Australia.

Despite the Italians defusing the bomb squad and fighting off an expected second-half hammering last July in Pretoria after trailing 3-28 to only lose 24-42, they were nilled 0-45 the following week in Gqeberha.

The straw they clutched was that they had sent an understrength squad to South Africa, but that excuse