Springboks win despite a comedy of errors against the Italians

SHOOT: Probably just as well that I missed this.

clipped from www.skysports.com The Springboks will be happy enough to have ended a miserable recent run that saw them defeated by Leicester, France and Saracens, but were still less than convincing for spells at the Stadio Friuli in Udine on Saturday. Bryan Habana, Jacque Fourie, Fourie du Preez and Wynand Oliver all crossed for the tourists while Morne Steyn kicked two penalties and two conversions with Ruan Pienaar adding another late conversion. Italy lost 20-6 to New Zealand last weekend despite a battling performance and that spirit was again in evidence as they ran the Springboks close in the first half before falling away in the second to succumb to their 13th consecutive defeat under coach Nick Mallett. Kirchner and Habana were again at the heart of the action seven minutes later as the Springboks extended their advantage, Kirchner, Adi Jacobs and Habana all combining before the latter offloaded to Fourie, who had the simplest of tasks to touch down.