SOUTH AFRICA limbered up for their TriNations opener against New Zealand in Wellington in two weeks’ time with a comfortable if uninspired victory over a second-string Italy in drenched conditions in Cape Town yesterday.

The decision of new Springbok coach Peter de Villiers to rest Butch James in favour of giving Francois Steyn a run at fly-half was only a qualified success. Steyn showed his virtuoso talent by scoring the opening try with a magnificent one-handed scoop off the ground of his own grubber after Bryan Habana had sliced through the Italy midfield. The youngster converted his try for a 7-0 lead but then failed to control the game, kicking away too much possession and allowing the dogged Italians to get a foothold and do their South African coach, Nick Mallett, proud on his return home.

Although South Africa scored a second try midway through the half when Bismarck du Plessis was driven over from a driving maul from a lineout, Steyn converting for 14-0, Italy dug in and denied them any more points before the break.

The Italians were unfortunate to lose lock Carlo Del Fava to the sin-bin just before half-time when his thunderous tackle knocked out Springbok No 8 Ryan Kankowski. Del Fava’s shoulder rode up to hit Kankowski’s head, but it looked accidental and the Italian used his arms to grip in the tackle.

While Del Fava was off, the seven-man Italian pack paid the price, Du Plessis scoring his second try of the match from a driving lineout maul.

South Africa’s fourth try came when Tendai Mtawarira, known as ‘The Beast’, took a scoring pass from Habana, Steyn converting to round off the Springbok account.

Star man: Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa)

South Africa:C Jantjes (P Grant 57min); O Ndungane, G Bobo, J de Villiers, B Habana; F Steyn, E Januarie (R Pienaar 66min); T Mtawarira (Van der Linde 77min), B du Plessis (S Brits 66min), CJ van der Linde (B Mujati 65min), J Botha (A Bekker 65min), V Matfield, L Watson (S Burger 57min), R Kankowski (J van Niekirk 37min), J Smith

Italy:A Marcato (R Pavan 68min); K Robertson, A Masi (E Patrizio 34min), G Garcia (J Erasmus 73min), M Pratichetti; L McLean, S Picone (P Canavosio 63min); M Rizzo (I Rouyet 48min), L Ghiraldini (F Ongaro 37min), C Nieto, S Dellape (T Reato 68min), C Del Fava, A Zanni, J Sole, R Barbieri

Scorers: South Africa: Tries:Steyn, Du Plessis (2), Mtawarira Cons:Steyn (3) Yellow card: Italy:Del Fava 37min

Referee:G Clancy (Ire)