South Africa's resilience shines as red card absorbed in win over Italy in Turin

TURIN, Italy (AP) — South Africa absorbed a red card for a second straight test and prevailed again in beating Italy 32-14 at the Juventus Stadium on Saturday.

The Springboks played a man short for almost 70 minutes after lock Franco Mostert was sent off, but showed the adaptability and resilience that helped them beat France in Paris with 14 men a week ago.

The Boks bench was reliably impactful as they led Italy by only six points with eight minutes to go, and secured the win with a try by replacement Grant Williams from a counterattack inside their own half.

They capped a stylish finish moments later when Ethan Hooker, a midfielder moved to the wing, scored his first test try from a kick-pass by replacement Manie Libbok.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi said they always plan for red cards but "it doesn't make it easy for us. We can talk about sacrifices but seeing a guy like Franco sitting there (on the sideline), we could see the hurt in his eyes.

“That said, I really love the way this team is just able to stand up and fight. We always say whatever happens between those four lines we can still go as hard as we can and control what we can.”

Italy flyhalf Paolo Garbisi received the red-card foul but crucially missed three of his six goal kicks, just a week after he was 100% off the tee in a win over Australia.

South Africa made 11 changes after the France win and fielded an experimental side, but the plans evaporated in the 12th minute when Mostert was issued a permanent red card for his no-arms, shoulder-led high tackle on Garbisi.

“The red card for Mostert was probably excessive,” Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada said. “When they got the red card I was frustrated; I imagined South Africa's reaction and that even greater discipline would be needed on our part. But the key was not putting points on the scoreboard when we should have in order to try to win the match.”

For the second straight test, a Springbok lock was sent off. Lood de Jager was marched for a similar tackle against France just before halftime and South Africa prevailed by playing tighter and squeezing the French.

They did the same to Italy.

Coach Rassie Erasmus gradually pulled off test novices Ben-Jason Dixon, Zachary Porthen, Boan Venter and Edwill van der Merwe, replacing them with experienced bomb squaders Ruan Nortje, Wilco Louw, Gerhard Steenekamp and hybrid forward/back Andre Esterhuizen.

Ten phases led to a penalty by Handre Pollard in his first test in two months. His value was highlighted by counterpart Garbisi, who missed his first two penalties but was third time lucky to level the score.

Right on halftime, South Africa tapped a penalty, No. 8 Marco van Staden crashed over and Pollard's extras gave them a 10-3 lead into the break.

Two more Garbisi penalties lifted Italy to within one with a two-man advantage after Van Staden was sin-binned.

But the advantage was brief. Italy No. 8 Lorenzo Cannone was sin-binned and Pollard's third goalkick made it 13-9.

On the hour, the Springboks gambled again. They waived a penalty kick in front of the posts for a scrum, tighthead Louw twisted it, and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg darted over.

Italy renewed hope five minutes later when Ange Capuozzo scored off a Garbisi inside ball but Garbisi missed the conversion to groans from the home crowd.

The Springboks didn't waste their chances and finished with superb tries by Williams and Hooker. Libbok ruined South Africa's perfect goalkicking record when he timed out on the last conversion.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

South Africa's Morne Van Den Berg, right, scores a try during the rugby union Nations Series match between Italy and South Africa, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Italy's Juan Ignacio Brex reacts during the rugby union Nations Series match between Italy and South Africa, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

South Africa's Grant Williams, center, reacts after scoring a try during the rugby union Nations Series match between Italy and South Africa, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

South Africa's Ethan Hooker, second left, celebrates after scoring a try during the rugby union Nations Series match between Italy and South Africa, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

South Africa's Johan Grobbelaar in action during the rugby union Nations Series match between Italy and South Africa, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

South Africa's Damian Willemse passes as Italy's Louis Lynagh makes a tackle during the rugby union Nations Series match between Italy and South Africa, in Turin, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

No Formula 1 driver puts pressure on his rivals quite like Max Verstappen.

The Red Bull star did it to Lewis Hamilton in 2021, winning his first title on the last lap of the season and preventing Hamilton from clinching a record eighth F1 title.

Verstappen came close to winning the title again this year, mounting an incredible late charge to crank up the pressure on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Earlier in the season, the McLaren teammates were contesting the F1 title between themselves.

But Verstappen changed all that.

Heading into Sunday's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it had become a three-way battle.

Verstappen did all he could.

He won in Abu Dhabi from pole position for a third straight race win, a season-leading eighth and 71st of a stellar career.

It was not quite enough to overtake Norris, who won his first F1 title by placing third in the race and ending up just two points ahead of Verstappen in the standings.

But it showed why Verstappen commands so much awe.

“This Max guy is pretty hard to beat,” McLaren CEO Zak Brown told broadcaster Sky with a large dose of understatement.

One race earlier, at the Qatar GP, Brown had jokingly compared Verstappen to a horror movie ghoul who keeps resurfacing.

“He's like that guy in a horror movie, that right as you think he's not coming back, he's back,” Brown said in a podcast interview before the Qatar race. “What an unbelievable talent he is. He never makes mistakes. He seizes every opportunity. We've never thought he was out.”

After winning the Dutch GP on Aug. 31, Piastri led Norris by 34 points and was 104 ahead of Verstappen, who back then had won just two races compared to seven for Piastri. Verstappen took advantage of McLaren's errors to barge his way back into contention.

“(When) you lose the championship by two points it looks painful. But on the other hand, if you look from where we were in Zandvoort, more than 100 behind, then it's not too bad," Verstappen said. “I’m very proud of the whole team. We could have also very easily given up at that point.”

Verstappen is already considered among the F1 greats, alongside Hamilton, seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.

Despite his relatively young age, the 28-year-old Dutchman is already third all-time for race wins behind Schumacher (91) and Hamilton (105). Verstappen has 127 podium finishes and 48 pole positions — one area where he is not as clinical as Hamilton (a record 104 poles) was in his prime with Mercedes.

When Norris won the Brazil GP sprint race in early November, he moved 39 points ahead of Verstappen with four races to go.

A few weeks later, Verstappen had dramatically turned the tables and all the pressure was on Norris and Piastri.

“It’s probably fair to say that the world discovered an even more extraordinary Max this season,” Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said. “A bit because of the magnitude of the comeback. A bit because he has been so relaxed.”

Verstappen has been more amiable since becoming a father earlier this year, and has made a concerted effort to reign in his occasionally scathing rants over team radio.

He was all smiles and friendly with Norris when they watched highlights of Sunday's race in the cool-down room.

In the past, bursts of rage or flashes of frustration would get the better of Verstappen.

Less so now.

But one thing that hasn't changed is his intense desire to win and deep self-belief, whatever the odds.

“The fightback has been really fun," Verstappen said. “I don’t see it like losing (the championship).”

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands in action during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands waves towards the crowd on the podium after the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands in action during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)