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| Martin Castrogiovanni © Gallo Images |
The Springbok pack will have to attack Italy’s tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni if they want to avoid becoming the latest victims of his brute scrumming power.
That is the view of former Springbok loosehead prop Os du Randt ahead of South Africa’s clash with the Azzurri in Udine on Saturday.
Castrogiovanni has made a name for himself in recent weeks by first destroying the Bok midweek team’s scrum in Leicester and then taking apart the All Blacks.
Du Randt believes the Boks must attack the Italian scrumming giant from the outset.
“If you don’t attack him, you will have trouble. The Boks’ hooker and tighthead prop will also have to help and focus on him,” said Du Randt.
The scrumming doctor of the Free State Cheetahs believes the Bok pack will have to work together to tame the Italians.
“The lock and flank behind the loosehead will also have to work hard. It will not be about one or two guys coming up with a solution, but an eight-man effort,” said Du Randt.
The rest of the Italian pack is not far behind Castrogiovanni. Collectively they had the better of the All Blacks.
That is why Nick Mallett’s team will approach Saturday’s game with confidence.
Du Randt believes the scrums are the only aspect of the game in which the Azzurri will command respect.
“They will not be able to compete with us in the lineouts,” he said.
He added that Castrogiovanni would take a lot of heart from his performances against the Bok midweek side and New Zealand.
He believes the prop can be tamed if he is robbed of his space.
“He gets a good hit and I think that is the one thing that makes him good. You can try and close his space,” said Du Randt.
Du Randt also believes the Boks should guard against getting a reputation as a weak scrumming side.
“Something that has been happening with the Springboks over the last year or two is that other teams are under the impression that you can attack them in the scrums,” he said.
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