South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus paid tribute to Italy's resilience and determination after the world champions overcame a spirited second-half fightback to secure a 42-24 win in the first Test in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Springboks dominated the opening 40 minutes at Loftus Versfeld, running in four tries and conceding only a penalty to take a commanding 28-3 lead into the break. However, Italy mounted an impressive response after the interval, outscoring the hosts three tries to two and refusing to be overwhelmed despite fielding a youthful and depleted side.
"Credit to Italy - they really stood firm. They left several star players at home and still showed great heart, while we had a lot of experience on the field," said Erasmus following the match.
"We knew it would be a tough, gritty affair, and that's exactly what they gave us. They were combative in every aspect of the game.
"We tried to impose our style, but they wouldn't let us. They defended superbly and kept the pressure on in the second half.