Bryan Habana equalled South Africa?s try-scoring record as the Springboks swamped Italy 55-11 in the second Test at Buffalo City Stadium on Saturday.
The flying wing scored the fifth of South Africa?s seven tries to take his tally to 38 in 60 Tests. The mark was set by scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen in 89 internationals.
Habana did not get a chance to claim the record as he was substituted immediately after his try as the Springboks made numerous changes with the result assured.
It was South Africa?s final match before they start the defence of the Tri-Nations championship against New Zealand on July 10 in Auckland.
This was a much improved performance by the Springboks following a scrappy 29-13 first Test win in Witbank last weekend.
"It was much more clinical," said Springbok captain John Smit after the side?s 50th win under his captaincy.
"We needed to polish up considering what?s coming up. We eliminated the errors from last week and the guys stuck to their guns. We?ve still got lots to work on but it?s a step in the right direction."
Italian coach Nick Mallett praised the Springboks but said that playing two Tests in successive weeks against opposition as strong as South Africa was not good for his team.
"I?m glad this is the last time we tour the southern hemisphere in June (at the end of the northern hemisphere season)," said Mallett.
"My request last year already was to play against sides like the United States and Canada, sides we can hopefully be more competitive against, because you don?t really learn anything when you play against sides like this, when losing 29-13 is a good performance," said Mallett.
Italian captain Sergio Parisse disagreed: "It is not easy for us to play against the best side in the world but it is the only way for us to improve," he said.
A home team showing seven changes to their starting line-up from the previous Test opted for a tighter approach and starved the Italians of possession.
Italy, who made a surprising nine changes, were under pressure almost from the start with the Springboks proving superior in the scrums and lineouts.
Playing into the wind in the first half the Europeans were pinned in their own territory for most of the opening 40 minutes as South Africa built a 27-6 half-time lead.
Springbok fly-half Morne Steyn and Italian wing Mirco Bergamasco swopped penalty goals in the first nine minutes but South Africa opted to kick for touch and set up a lineout when they were awarded another penalty soon after.
The Springboks drove from the lineout and Steyn dummied his way over for the opening try.
A break by centre Gonzalo Canale enabled Italy to mount a rare attack, which ended with another Bergamasco penalty before South Africa took control.
Steyn scored a second try on the half hour after a break by Habana and Pierre Spies went over two minutes before half-time when South Africa won a turnover and lock Andries Bekker galloped downfield before feeding the eighthman.
As in the first Test, Italy started the second half promisingly but apart from one run down the right touchline by captain and eighthman Sergio Parisse did not threaten to beat the Bok defence.
The brief Italian flurry spurred South Africa into action and they scored three tries in the space of nine minutes to make the game safe.
With coach Peter de Villiers bringing on all his replacements, the team lost some cohesion during the last 20 minutes and Italy were able to score a try through right wing Michele Sepe after a well-judged grubber kick by fly-half Craig Gower.
Replacement prop BJ Botha wrapped up a comprehensive Springbok win with a try two minutes from the end.
It was the 50th Test win for South Africa under the captaincy of John Smit.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
