Italy vs. South Africa: Key Battles to Watch in Padova
In the penultimate fixture of their 2014 autumn tour, South Africa make the trip to Padova, Italy on Saturday in the hopes that they can build on last weekend's victory over England.
Heyneke Meyer's side responded to defeat against Ireland in the fashion their coach would have hoped for, and Italy present another chance to boost morale ahead of the trials to come in 2015.
Read on for a breakdown of which head-to-head struggles will decide who comes out on top in Padova.
1. Andrea Masi vs. Johan Goosen
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Weaving his way further into Meyer's selection process, Johan Goosen will look to take the chance afforded to him at fullback on Saturday in an attempt to show off his versatility.
The fly-half has in the past lined up in the No. 15 jersey during his days with the Cheetahs, but Andrea Masi will look to use the experience on his side in order to overcome the young prospect, now of Racing Metro.
In near opposite fashion, Masi is the fifth-most experienced member of Jacques Brunel's Azzurri squad and boasts 86 caps to his name. Goosen has yet to break the double-digit barrier in that regard.
Juan Martin Hernandez displayed in Argentina's win over Italy last week that Masi's positioning can be exploited at times, but the Wasps veteran carried for 113 metres in that fixture and presents a solid running option for the hosts.
Goosen's prerogatives will differ, and he's most likely to instead be plotting his moves mostly through the boot, chipping away at Italy's backfield where he can. That means Masi needs to be aware at all times.
2. Sergio Parisse vs. Duane Vermeulen
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Two of the world's finest No. 8 powers will go head-to-head in an earth-shattering battle of strength and poise this Saturday, but Sergio Parisse and Duane Vermeulen offer differing amounts of those two attributes.
Vermeulen enters the fray in Padova as a nominee for 2014 IRB Player of the Year—the award for which Parisse has twice run as a candidate—and goes about most of his work with brute force.
Parisse, on the other hand, tends to show more guile in his work, as he can afford to do little else when almost carrying Italy through a heavy percentage of their fixtures in recent years.
It will be an intriguing struggle of titanic proportions, and just as he did against the Pumas last week, Parisse will look to gain an edge in the lineout, where he'll once again lurk as a threat on opposition ball.
3. Michele Campagnaro vs. Jan Serfontein
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Since he starred at this year's Six Nations as a breakout star of the tournament, the hype surrounding Italy's Michele Campagnaro has died down somewhat, although Treviso fans may argue he is still up to the same tricks.
Against Jan Serfontein, the outside centre will come up against an opponent of equal promise. The Bulls midfielder may well be convincing many as to why the Springboks' No. 13 jersey should be his for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and an interception try against England last Saturday did his campaign no harm.
With both still just 21 years of age, Campagnaro and Serfontein are hoping to impress in equal measure, and that youthful exuberance can often lead to sparks.
However, the dazzling carriers must also ensure determination doesn't spill over into complacency, and Campagnaro in particular must ensure his defensive game is on point, with his side likely to see a minority of possession.
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4. Josh Furno vs. Eben Etzebeth
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As promising as Joshua Furno is as an Italian international for some years to come, the 25-year-old meets an asset of altogether more terrifying stature as Eben Etzebeth makes his way to Italy's northern territories.
At just 23 years of age, Etzebeth is a standout staple in Meyer's setup, and learning from the likes of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha puts the Stormers star in good stead to reign as one of the world's premier locks in future.
Upon seeing Biarritz relegated from the Top 14 last season, Furno jumped ship to Newcastle Falcons and has shown Premiership audiences some of his power at the lineout and in the loose.
Keeping up with the Etzebeth juggernaut will be a daunting task, but Furno sits as his most direct obstacle at the set piece and will need to make up ground getting to rucks and mauls, too, in order to contend with his weight.
5. Kelly Haimona vs. Pat Lambie
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So far this autumn, Brunel has placed his faith in Kelly Haimona at fly-half, handing the 28-year old his debut at fly-half as opposed to his more favoured centre role.
Zebre's New Zealand-born star has offered something different in the position to what the Azzurri have perhaps become accustomed to with the likes of Luciano Orquera and Tommaso Allan.
In fact, Haimona isn't too dissimilar in style from the man he'll look to pile pressure on this Saturday, Pat Lambie, who slotted into the South African XV against England to impress in a 31-28 win.
Full of confidence where it was needed, Lambie played the role of playmaker and points scorer at Twickenham, pulling the Springboks' strings in a manner some might argue Handre Pollard can't just yet.
Haimona comes into the fixture as a severe underdog, and with a flying back row of Oupa Mohoje and Marcell Coetzee flying up at him, time is one thing he won't be able to bank on.
All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.
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