The Springboks bounced back from successive losses and a week impacted by the suspension of Rassie Erasmus to demolish Italy 63-21 in Genoa, after taking a narrow five-point lead into the break.

Arendse scored a try in each half, but the Springboks will be concerned over Cheslin Kolbe after the number 14 limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury following his try in the second half.

While the expectation was for South Africa to be nervy, given how they were going into this test, the visitors were in top form from the get-go, as they worked the ball wide for Kurt-Lee Arendse to score his first try as early as the second minute.

The first half was, however, tightly contested as Italy hit back and took the lead through the excellent boot of Tommaso Allan and a brilliant try from World Rugby breakthrough player nominee Ange Capuozzo.

Crucially for the Boks, hooker Bongi Mbonambi reached over just before half-time, while Kolbe scored from the restart five minutes after the break.

The famed Bomb Squad got in on the act, with Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff forcing their way over the tryline, before Damian Willemse, on the wing after Kolbe went off, combined with Willie le Roux to score.

Pleasingly for the Springboks, both Manie Libbok, on in the 46th minute, and Evan Roos got extended periods of game time before the final clash of the outgoing tour against England at Twickenham next weekend. Libbok slotted five kicks at goal for his first points in test rugby.