Springboks overcome horror week, run riot in Genoa to land thumping Italy win

At the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa

The Springboks brought high-flying Italy down to earth with a bruising and dismissive 63-21 win at a cold and breezy Genoa on Saturday afternoon.

AS IT HAPPENED | Italy 21-63 South Africa

The Boks were hurting and when Italy, who came into the game on the back of three consecutive wins, stood up to them in the first half, they responded by running in 45 second-half points to re-establish their dominance.

The Boks have had plenty to deal with off the field - director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was banned in the week for his social media takes on match officials - but it didn't show as they initially seasoned the combative hosts in the first 40 minutes before flame-grilling them in the second stanza with a balanced display of pace, power, and panache.

The win, South Africa's first on the tour and their first since the Argentina success in late September, was a much-needed confidence booster ahead of next week's Test against England at Twickenham.

The Boks started fast, had a slight mid-first-half stutter, but took utter control in the second half to not only collect their biggest win of the season, but score the most tries in a game this year.

England will be far more stubborn, street-wise, and conditioned than Italy, but the Boks will have confidence.

The Boks were out of the blocks faster than how the national anthem was sung, with their first line-out and maul on their own feed in the second minute ending up in Kurt-Lee Arendse scoring in the left-hand corner.

The Boks have been blamed for not using their backs as efficiently as most nations, but a delayed and accurate pass from Damian Willemse created the necessary wide space for Arendse to score.

With the Boks playing from South to North,