South Africa ran in five tries to earn comprehensive victory over Italy
South Africa ran in five tries to record a 44-10 win over Italy at the King's Park Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
Last Updated: 08/06/13 9:39pm
Hooker Adriaan Strauss and JJ Engelbrecht scored early tries as the hosts raced into a 20-0 lead.
But Italy hit back early in the second period, with Alberto Sgarbi touching down and debutant fly half Alberto di Bernardo kicking a penalty just before the hour mark to reduce the deficit to just 10 points.
But the hosts scored three late scores to dash Italian hopes. First Bryan Habana scored his 48th Test try, cutting through the Italian defence after collecting a ball just inside their half.
Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers then scored and Bjorn Basson added an intercept try from the halfway line.
The match was the second of a double-header in Durban on Saturday, with Samoa beating Scotland 27-17 in the earlier fixture.