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It was the closest score yet between the two sides - and although there was much to commend in the Springboks' performance, the stop-start second half against an outplayed Italy will be food for thought for Springbok coach Peter de Villiers.
A single converted try after the break against 10 points scored by the Italians, who never gave up, showed there was something missing in a display where the Springboks were in control at the front but didn't capitalise on their possession and go-forward ball.
Scrumhalf Ricky Januarie on a number of occasions struggled to get the ball away quickly and the solid defence of Italy against a Bok midfield playing out of position did not make for a spectacular or convincing display behind the pack.
Basic errors and a lack of cohesion - probably to be expected as the Springbok team showed six changes in the search for the best combinations for the World Cup next year - were the main reasons for an average performance.
Little came of the much-vaunted Italian scrum. The Springboks did well on their own first scrum put-in and Gurthro Steenkamp, except for one or two minor hiccups, thereafter took more than his share of revenge against Martin Castrogiovanni who tormented him in the Boks' game against Leicester in the year-end tour.
Italy did, as expected, try to put the Springboks' back three under pressure with a kicking game but, except for one hesitant catch off the first up-and-under by Zane Kirchner, the threesome were up to the challenge.
In the rucks, Italy turned over two balls in the first half in the period where they dominated possession and territory. Their dominance was such that the Springboks didn't have any play from any phase in the Italy half for the first nine minutes - and then it was for a very brief ruck.
But South Africa's expected dominance in the lineouts was more telling. The first real win of an Italian throw-in came in the 12th minute. It went through the backline and Kirchner put in the perfect grubber for one of Bryan Habana's easiest tries in Test matches.
The Boks were now up 10-3 after earlier penalties by Mirco Bergamasco for a high tackle by Butch James under the posts and a reply two minutes later by Morne Steyn.
James, no stranger when it comes to dishing out high tackles, was yellow-carded when he repeated the offence in the 13th minute of the second half.
The Boks, after the initial grip Italy had on the game, slowly ground their way back and were in total control towards the middle of the second quarter.
That's when their second try came after a 12 metre drive from a lineout following a penalty to the Boks. Francois Louw was the man who was in possession as the Italy pack disintegrated.
Eight minutes later, Steyn scored a good try after an individual stepping effort following a ruck and some average play by Habana. He converted his own try and the Boks were 22-3 up when the whistle went for halftime.
A hiding seemed on the cards when Kirchner had an easy run-in after a good ruck set up by Jean de Villiers in which Chiliboy Ralepelle also did his bit before Steyn sent Kirchner on his way.
But Italy, although now being outplayed, kept on taking the game to South Africa - and there was a 14-point turnaround when referee Andrew Small penalised Jean de Villiers for a tackle as his opponent missed the ball.
Gio Aplon's try was, therefore, disallowed and, from the penalty lineout, Italy scrumhalf Tito Tebaldi broke into the gap between the Bok pack and backline and put his captain Sergio Parisse over for a converted try (29-10).
Bergamasco kicked another penalty and with 12 minutes remaining it was 29-13 - and just after the final hooter an Italy knock-on cost them a possible seven points.
The Boks had the better of the remainder of the game but were slightly disjointed as their coach Peter de Villiers gave all his replacements a run.
Scorers:
South Africa - Tries: Bryan Habana, Francois Louw, Morne Steyn, Zane Kirchner; Conversions: Steyn (3); Penalty: Steyn.
Italy - Try: Sergio Parisse; Conversion: Mirco Bergamasco; Penalties: Bergamasco (2).
Teams (15-1)
South Africa
Zane Kirchner; Gio Aplon, Jean de Villiers, Butch James, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Ricky Januarie; Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Louw; Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha; Jannie du Plessis, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements: Bandise Maku, CJ van der Linde, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Juan de Jongh, Bjorn Basson
Italy
Luke McLean; Kaine Robertson, Andrea Masi, Matteo Pratichetti, Mirco Bergamasco; Craig Gower, Tito Tebaldi; Sergio Parisse (capt), Alessandro Zanni, Simone Favaro; Quintin Geldenhuys, Valerio Bernabo; Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Salvatore Perugini
Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Bortolami, Paul Derbyshire, Simon Picone, Riccardo Bocchino, Gonzalo Canale
Referee: Andrew Small (ENG)
