For the second successive week the Boks lost their number five lock in Franco Mostert (for a tackle to the head of Italian flyhalf Paolo Garbisi) as the second man entering the tackle – except this time it was in the 12^th minute.

That left an experimental side with new combinations across the field facing 68 minutes with a man down against an Italian team which had recorded a famous victory over Australia a week before.

Almost miraculously, 68 minutes later, the Boks had scored four tries to one in delivering a win that will never be forgotten for its bravery, guts and ultimately superior power and skill.

Mind you, the game was in the balance as late as the 52^nd minute – despite the final margin of 18 points – when Garbisi’s third penalty goal closed the Boks’ lead to one point. And with Bok No 8 Marco van Staden dispatched to the sideline for 10 minutes for the offence which granted the penalty, the Boks were down to 13 men.

But, incredibly, they were to score three more tries in that final half hour from Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams and Ethan Hooker – to add to Van Staden’s first half score – to secure a famous victory.

The sending off of Mostert had turned the Springbok replacements’ bench into a revolving door as coach Rassie Erasmus made a series of rapid changes to address the loss of his lock and a struggling scrum.

Grant Williams goes over for his try.

Italy won a series of penalties at that phase – even after the replacements in the front row – but almost miraculously the Boks managed to lead at halftime after the changes had been made.

Flank Ben-Jason Dixon gave way for lock Ruan Nortje after 12 minutes; seven minutes later prop Zachary Porthen was replaced by Wilco Louw and Boan Venter followed him four minutes later from the other side of the front row in favour of Gerhard Steenekamp.

And the quartet of changes was completed a further four minutes later when Andre Esterhuizen came to fulfil the hybrid role of flanker and centre with wing Kurt-Lee Arendse the man to be sacrificed.

In that first half hour the Boks barely got out of their half, and it took a determined defensive display to keep the home side at bay. It seemed the dam must crack at any moment.

But that would be to disregard the sheer bloody-mindedness of this Bok generation and the first time they found their way into the home team’s 22, they took the lead.

They turned the Azzurri around with a high kicking game and Handre Pollard popped over a penalty goal from right in front – for offside – after his successful drop goal from further back had been ruled out for an illegal block by Louw.

Ethan Hooker goes over for his first try for the Boks.

Garbisi – who had uncharacteristically missed two shots at goal at that stage – finally got Italy on the board after 36 minutes for a scrum penalty right in front, before the Boks grabbed an unlikely lead on the stroke of halftime.

The high kick tactic gave them an attacking scrum and from a resulting free kick at the phase a series of pick-and-go’s ended with Van Staden being driven over next the left-hand upright for Pollard to goal.

The changes continued at the start of the second half with all the forward replacements on the field by the 50th minute but the Boks saw their lead being eroded by the boot of Garbisi as they continued to fight a rearguard action.

He landed penalty goals in the 43^rd and 52^nd minutes – the second for cynical play by Van Staden that led to his yellow card – but the Boks didn’t lose their composure and Pollard pulled one back in the 56^th minute when Italy No 8 Lorenzo Cannone was given ten minutes in the sin bin for a head clash on an upright tackle on Kwagga Smith.

The Boks managed to extend their lead with the teams reduced to 13 versus 14, when Van den Berg profited from a wheeling attacking scrum in the shadow of the poles to dart forward. Although he was tackled on the line, he was able to place the ball.

Italy finally broke the defensive line through the gliding brilliance of fullback Ange Capuozzo – although it took them 65 minutes to do it. He timed his run beautifully to take an inside pass and pierce a slow-to-fold defensive line to score from 25 metres.

Damian Willemse was named Player of the Match.

Garbisi’s kicking woes continued as he missed the straightforward conversion, but Italian misery was not complete as a sensational try – completed by replacement scrumhalf Grant Williams – left the home side needing to score twice in the final eight minutes.

The excellent Damian Willemse collected a kick in his own half and the ball was moved to the left where Canan Moodie went outside the Italian cover before passing inside to the supporting Williams to scamper in by the posts.

It left Italy 13 points adrift with eight minutes remaining but if anyone looked like scoring after that it was the Boks and a Manie Libbok crossfield kick picked out Hooker on the right-hand touchline to duly have the final say with his first try for South Africa.

Libbok’s conversion was timed out with the match clock in the red, and while the Bok flyhalf reasoned that the Italians had encroached before he had begun his run up. Referee James Doleman was having none of it, as he called time on a chaotic and memorable victory.

Scorers:

Italy 14 (3) – Try: Ange Capuozzo. Penalty goals: Paolo Garbisi (3).

Springboks 32 (10) – Tries: Marco van Staden, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Ethan Hooker. Conversions: Handre Pollard (2), Manie Libbok. Penalty goals: Pollard (2).