South Africa will lose their position at the top of the World Rugby rankings if they are beaten by Italy on Saturday, provided New Zealand defeat Scotland later the same day.
The Springboks face Italy in their next Nations Championship fixture at Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday, 7 November, with kick-off at 13:40 (SA time). The match will be shown live on SuperSport.
Rassie Erasmus’ side begin the Test with 93.09 ranking points, only 0.82 ahead of New Zealand on 92.27. Italy are ranked 11th in the world.
A defeat by 15 points or fewer would cost South Africa two ranking points, while losing by 16 points or more would result in a three-point deduction. A draw after 80 minutes would see the Springboks drop one point.
South Africa have won 18 of their 19 Tests against Italy. Their only defeat came on 19 November 2016, when a largely second-string side led by Adriaan Strauss and coached by Allister Coetzee lost 20-18 to Italy at Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence.
The Springboks currently lead the Southern Hemisphere standings in the Nations Championship on points difference from New Zealand. Both teams have collected a maximum 15 points after three rounds.
Erasmus is expected to announce his Springbok match-day squad on Monday at 18:30 (SA time).
The match officials are referee Eoghan Cross (IRFU), assistant referees James Doleman (NZR) and Sam Grove-White (SRU), television match official Brett Cronan (RA), and foul-play review officer Mike Adamson (SRU).
Saturday’s fixtures
All times are SA time:
– Ireland v Argentina – 22:10
– Italy v South Africa – 13:40
– Scotland v New Zealand – 16:10
– Wales v Japan – 18:40
– France v Fiji – 22:10
– England v Australia – 17:10
South Africa squad
Props: Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen (all Stormers), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls)
Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls)
Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Salmaan Moerat (Stade Rochelais), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears), Riley Norton (Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Siya Kolisi (both Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Bulls), Emmanuel Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Marco van Staden (Bulls)
Scrumhalves: Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers)
Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (both Stormers), Luan Giliomee (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners)
Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Markus Muller (Stormers), Canan Moodie (Bulls)
Outside backs: Sebastian de Klerk (Bulls), Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Damian Willemse (Stormers)
