Rugby World Cup 2019: Cheslin Kolbe stars as South Africa thrash fourteen-man Italy

South Africa 49-3 Italy: Andrea Lovotti was sent off for a dangerous clear-out of South Africa’s Duane Vermeulen and South Africa pulled away in the final quarter

Cheslin Kolbe proved that being big is not the only way to be beautiful on a rugby pitch with two tries as South Africa moved to the top of Pool B and put one foot in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Wing Kolbe, just 5ft 7in and weighing around 12 and a half stone, provided the star dust but Italy had some bad luck before shooting themselves in the foot and wilting. He could have had a hat-trick but was hauled down by some desperate defence late on.

In a World Cup of shocks this looked one of the most predictable of pools and Rassie Erasmus’ side are primed to join the All Blacks in the last eight.

There were 61 minutes of uncontested scrums as Italian front rowers dropped like flies with injury and one was given his marching orders for a moment of rank stupidity.

Their loose head prop Andrea Lovotti was red-carded in the 43rd minute and can have no complaints if he is given a lengthy ban. He might not be the only one to have his collar felt.

The replacement prop Nicola Quaglio, a loose head playing tight head in extremis, was lucky to stay on the field as he and Lovotti combined to dump South African No.8 Duane Vermueulen on his head. Lovotti gave Wayne Barnes no choice but Italy could have easily have been down to 13 men.

With the Eben Etzebeth allegations of racism and assault swirling around and awaiting and inquiry from the Equality Court, at the recommendation of the South African Human Rights Commission, a game was just what the Boks needed.

It is unclear if Etzebeth will have his tournament interrupted by the furore but he was on duty here as South Africa went to the break 17-3.

Italy had actually come into this game as leaders of Pool B after wins over Namibia and Canada but a quarter-final place looks beyond them with the All Blacks to come. They beat the Boks in Florence in 2016 but they were never going to beat them here.

Kolbe, 25, exposed the folly of Italy picking a centre, in the shape of Michele Campagnaro, to mark him when he went through his opposite number and Luca Morisi to score in the sixth minute off Willie le Roux’s long pass.

By then the Italian tight head prop Simone Ferrari had gone off with what looked like a hamstring injury and been replaced by Marco Riccione.

By the 19th minute, Riccione, who had already had his ribs strapped, was off for a Head Injury Assessment and the uncontested scrums started with Quaglio not able to play tight-head.

That should have suited Italy who had a Tommasso Allen on the board and they actual got some go forward off the set piece a couple of times.

The Springboks second try came from a driving maul after they had turned down a penalty shot to kick touch with hooker Mbongeni Mbonambi crashing over and the writing looked on the wall for the Italians.

Then came the red card and South Africa looked to apply their foot to the throat of the Italians. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit had a try chalked off for obstruction by captain Siya Kolisi and Conor O’Shea’s side were in finger-in-the-dam territory.

Andrea Lovotti saw red after Duane Vermeulen landed on his head after the prop’s clearout (AFP via Getty)

Hendre Pollard’s second penalty made it 20-3 and in the 53rd minute Kolbe scooted over for his second from the fly-half’s chip. Game, set and match then centre Lukhanyo Am’s interception and run in nailed the bonus point.

Kolbe’s opposite wing Makazole Mapimpi got in the act on the 66th minute rounding off a fine move and the Italians looked out on their feet when Louis Snyman and Malcom Marx made it seven tries. They are as good as out of the World Cup.