Italy v South Africa

80 With one minute to go Smit feeds a line out, Hougaard to Habana who is taken high....again the Boks go. Olivier floats a nice one to Pietersen who chips and chases....will he get there? The touch line wins (just)...and that is the end of the match. In the end a comprehensive victory for the World Champs despite a few anxious moments during the first half. Things looked better for them once captain Smit was back in the hooker position and call up Botha at tight-head. Food for thought for PdV. Well played Nick Mallet's Italy; once they get their kicking game sorted we'll see them upset a few teams yet. Thanx for joining us in Udine, we'll see you soon.

78 Hougaard makes his debut...Italy on the attack outside the SA 22. Penalty SA as Italy hangs on. Deysel did well to get hands on the ball. Pienaar's kick is not out. Hougaard is back there to collect again and sticks it out on halfway.

75 Italy try to have a go but it's clear that SA is control as they close Italy down and force a scrum on halfway. Smit looks comfortable back in the familiar hooker slot. Du Preez launches a cross kick but the apparent good flip back from Pietersen is adjudged to have gone forward...scrum and now Italy gets the penalty.

73 From the line out Du Preez collects, breaks sharply towards midfiled and feeds a flying Olivier who goes in under the posts. Good try!

71 Italy knocks on in midfield just as they look dangerous...another scrum now ans suddenly the Beast, Smit, Botha front row kicks major ...you know what...SA walk with the Italians and get the penalty. Mmmm....well, well, well...Smit gets up smarting and smiling from that one. Pienaar for touch.

68 Ball goes loose, Du Preez hacks, Habana chases....good save by McLean but now we have a Italian scrum...again the SA scrum looks better than it did in...weeks? Habana takes a quick throw in and Kirschner kicks well.

67 High she goes from the restart...knock on by Italy. Let's see if the reshuffled SA scrum improves. Yes, Pienaar, on for Steyn kicks across field but Italy squeeze the penalty. Good kick...we're inside the SA 22.

64 PENALTY SA 10 - 25

63 Tebaldi puts one directly into touch giving SA the attacking line out inside Italian territory. BJ Botha is on the field. SA drive it forward powerfully, Brussouw controls. The penalty comes and Steyn will have a go. Bye the way, John Smit is back in the hooker position...

62 Tebaldi breaks beautifully from the restart and although his kick ahead is fielded and cleared by Kirschner, Italy is still inside the SA 22. Steyn finds space in behind. McLean returns it asnd when Du Preez receives, he takes his time and bangs it out deep.

59 PENALTY ITALY 10 - 22

58 Now SA are penalised as they hang onto the ball in the ruck. Play goes back to the SA half of the field. Gower attacks the advantage line and wins the penalty for his side. They will have a shot at goal here, having missed a bunch before....

55 From the restart SA get the free kick and this time they opt to keep it, good idea. Through 5 phases SA string together well worked moves, clever offloads and avoidance of the contact area to stratch the Italians. They get up to the Italian 22 where they force a attacking scrum.

53 ITALY 7 SA 22

52 Steyn finds touch inside Italian space but as Matfield takes to the field they must surely stress about the pack's performance. Again Italy walks with SA, this timer in maul format. The kick goes up, Pietersen takes....kicks...4 kicks come from different players before Steyn decides to run...out to Roussouw...down the left hand touch, great slip of the ball to Fourie...back inside to haban who guns for the posts, won't make iot but Du Preez arrives to fininsh off an excellent move!! TRY SA....ITALY 7 SA 20

49 The SA smiles dry up like Kudu biltong as the Italian scrum teach them how to walk in reverse. Another penalty to Italy; embarressing for SA. McLean gets a shot at goal but he misses too. Frankly, SA can consider themselves in trouble but out of jail...terrible kicking by Italy!!

47 From the restart Italy decide to keep the ball in hand but to no avail. Habana is a menace and intercepts and invite his mates to spread the general nuisance. Italy are fortunate to get the scrum. We are on the Bok 22 and as the Mexixan-Italian wave rolls around the players use a injury break to drink water and share a few smiles. Good stuff in the heart of Italy.

46 Penalty Steyn ITALY 7 SA 15

45 SA decide to go for what workerd before, keeping the ball in hand. They steal one and swing it wide. Nice hands by the backs as they find space and as Brussouw and co arrive on half way, Italy get rattled and transgress. This penalty is in the middle, just over half way and Steyn will look for succes.

44 As I say that, Geldenhuys spills one and SA gets the scrum feed deep inside Italian territory. No good, this time a free kick to Italy. They tap and bang it deep in behind. Pietersen messes around a bit and manages a hack into touch short of the 22. Ominous signs for SA.

43 Scrum to SA inside their half but it's scary to see Italy shove them of the ball and take the ball. High she goes but Kirschner is back there and he finds touch on the 10. SA will look to avoid scrums from here on.

41 Gower steps up to the centyre spot to restart this match...can Italy surprise..oir will the World Champs kick up a gear? Italy go for the dop as they collect from the restart...wide she goes.

40 And now Steyn misses out... the half-time whixtle goes. Right...you make your own mind up. Is Italy playing well, is SA playing not so well...where will this go? Join us here again after you've replenished your cup...it promises to excite!

38 Well, Gower misses a golden opportunity to freak all in Bok-land out...the score remains the same. Back in midfield on Italy's side the Boks battle for posession. This time they get the penalty and with time running out, Steyn will look to stretch the lead.

37 Habana is smashed in midfield but his forwards are there to bring it back. Fourie goes down the right hand side and his chip ahead rolls intot ouch. Italy clears from the line out. On the 22, SA in posession. They mount a few drives and crash balls and then bring it back. Jacobs' loose pass is partly saved by Kirschner who pops it back to Jacobs who in turn sells out Habana wityh a hospital pass. The spilled ball is hacked ahead and collected by Alberto Sgarbi...who is brought down but the rattled Springboks find themselves on their 22 with a penalty against them.

34 Italy clears from the kick off, play goes to the 10 m line. Game on eh?

33 Italy 7 SA 12...as Gower sticks it over from in front.

32 Habana gets too eager on the chase and the halfway penalty is put into touch inside the SA 22. Habana actually managed to flip it back in the air but the rev diagrees...poor form. Back in play, Italy look to build momentum with a drive. They make 7 metres and then go sideways. Out to Gower who runs skwe and slips it back to Gonzalo Garcia who comes in straight and under the posts!! Italy 5 SA 12

29 From the 22 drop out Italy goes on the attack and they do really well through the phases, keeping it short and sharp. When it becomes evident that the gate is locked for the moment Gower slips in a drop that sails wide.

28 Gower missed Italy's first scoring opportunity...or did he...this is actuallya TMO decision! The uprights are not particularly tall and the ball went right over the right hand pole...confusion all round...haven't seen this since school boy games. Any case. no cigar.....

27 Italy make their way deep into the SA 22 from a stolen ball. The chip through is spilled by Steyn, scrum Italy. Simone Favaro breaks around the side and gets within a yard...hectic rucking on the goal line....Brussouw steals! SA hacks ahead but Italy is straight back on the attack. Sergio Parisse goes in hard and when Kankowski don't release, Italy is awarded the penalty.....

21 Again Kischner is solid under a high one. Gower at the back...returns it to Habana, SA takes it up. A messy ruck goes SA way, scrum down in midfield, SA side of halfway.

18 SA have a run from the scrum on the Italian 10; travel to the 22 where they let themselves down with a handling error. Italy to feed; speaking of: Italy just shoved the Boks back. Debutant Du Preez emerges with a bloody face and Italy gets the penalty. Mmmmmm. PLay goes to the Bok 22 from a well judged Gower touch finder.

16 ...and so it goes...Italy take on SA in the kicking game and again Kirschner finds a good touch in the corner. SA gets that line out and a promising back line move ends in touch on the far side. SA looks good with ball in hand; Italy will have to re-think here as the kicking game will do them no favours at all.

14 Again Italy opt to look for space in behind but Du Preez and Steyn make them pay. McLean claims one beautifully and sets it up for Simon Picone. He kicks, Habana runs it back. Steyn kicks, Gower kicks Steyn goes high, McLean takes again...looking solid....

13 Ping pong ensues as the guys pin one another down. This time Kirschner decides to run back at Itlay. He goes on the swerve, flips it to Jacobs, out to Habana who pins his ears back, comes inside to draw 2 defenders and pops it back inside to Fourie....awesome try SA! Italy 0 SA 12

11 Italy drives well from the line out but when the Boks defense holds Gower gets and opts for the high ball. Fourie takes nicely and feeds Kirschner on the burst...on the foot down the left touch and the race is on....the in goal are a wins.

9 Kirschner bangs into the middle but when he hangs on Italy wins the penalty. Gower takes play to halfway.

8 Steyn misses again from out wide, showing that he's human as well. Back in play Du Preez takes again at the back, beats Sergio Parisse, feeds Steyn who deftly sticks it out in the corner. Italy hacks the next play into touch, SA on the Italian 22 now.

6 Steyn hits the upright from right in front. Back in play SA come right, Jacobs does well to offload to Fourie. They go left this time to Kankowski who steps inside and puts his foot down. He steps inside again and then finds Habana flying on his inside. Habana for the corner....yes! TRY SOUTH AFRICA 0-5

3 ..still play flows as Italy work a turn over and kick deep where Kirschner collects and return the kick. Gower gets and launches another high ball. Du Preez gets and returns the kick but he's taken out late. Penalty to SA in a kickable position.YELLOW CARD ITALY

1 After a stirring rendition of the national anthems, Steyn will get the action going, here we go! The deep restart is left uncontrolled and with Habana charging up. SA get the first line out on the 22. Bekker takes nicely, Italy offside and as advantage is played SA goes left, then right and back to the right through 5 phases.

0 Welcome to Stadio Friuli, Udine where Italy will host the World Champs, South Africa. This is surely one of those Test matches where you'd expect to accurately predict the outcome weeks in advance. It has been however a tricky tour for the Springboks with two poor mid-week matches and a Test defeat. Italy on the other hand looked sharp against the All Blacks last week, especially come scrum time.

Either way, this should be another 80 minutes of fun international rugby. Join us here in a few minutes for all the action.

Kick off is at 1400 GMT.