SA Schools outclass Italy

The South African Schools team on Tuesday comprehensively outclassed their Italy Schools opponents 86-3 at the GWK Park in Kimberley.

The hosts played some exciting, entertaining and running rugby by running in tries against their Italian opponents. The visitors were held try-less thanks to the superb defensive performance by the SA Schools team. The only points scored by Italy was by flyhalf Gianmarco Duca, who kicked a penalty before the half time break.

There were three hat trick try scorers for the hosts at the GWK Park.

Fullback Nicolaas Britz, winger Sizophila Maseko and Mthangala Skosana all crossed the try line on three occasions with Lean Schwartz, Pieter Rademan, Stephan Kotze, Andile Jho and Altonio Jantjies scoring the other tries for the South Africans.

Flyhalf William van Wyk kicked four conversions while substitute utility back Altonio Jantjies, also converted four tries.  

"I am very satisfied with the result, but there is still plenty of room for improvement in our overall performance,” said SA Schools coach Chris October.

"We managed to give all 22 players a decent run today and generally, I am satisfied with the way our team stood up to the Italians. However there are many areas of our play where I believe we can better before our next match against the England Schools.

"The England Schools team are not going to be any easy walk-over and as a team we know that. So we’ll enjoy this result and start preparing for Friday evening’s game tomorrow." 

There were many stand out players in the SA Schools team’s victory over their Italian opponents on Tuesday. The forwards dominated at scrum-time and were also dominant at the breakdown and at the line-outs. The backline also looked good on attack and broke the Italian defensive line regularly.

Van Wyk ignited the SA backline and was the catalyst of most tries scored by the hosts during the first half. In the second fullback Britz dictated matters at the back with both centres Petrus Lindeque and Jho causing the Italian defenders plenty of trouble on defence.

Scrumhalf Pieter Rademan also put in a solid performance and linked well between the backs and forwards. Up front, the entire SA Schools pack outclassed their opponents. The SA locks Frederick Schnetler and Carl Wegner caused the Italian jumpers trouble in the line-outs, while flankers Jean Cook and Schwartz were excellent at the breakdown.

"We’re happy with the win, but are going to have to forget about this result and quickly start focusing on England,” said Rademan, who captained the SA Schools team.

"There were plenty of positives for us to take out of this match, but we know we have to be up for Friday’s game. The England Under-18 team beat Western Province 93-0, so we have be at our best to get the right result." 

The SA Schools will play an England Under-18 team at the GWK Park on Friday at 17.00.

Scorers:

SA Schools
Tries: Nicolaas Britz (3), Sizophila Maseko (3), Lean Schwartz, Mthangala Skosana (3), Pieter Rademan, Stephan Kotze, Andile Jho, Altonio Jantjies
Cons: William van Wyk (4), Jantjies (4).

Italy Schools
Pen: Gianmarco Duca.