The Springboks will reportedly host Italy for the first time in over a decade in two Tests during next year’s July Test window.
In addition, Georgia are set to return to South Africa.
According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, these fixtures will take place while the British & Irish Lions tour Australia, and France take on the All Blacks in New Zealand.
England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be severely depleted by their British & Irish Lion inclusion, leaving slim pickings in terms of options for the Springboks.
While Springbok supporters won’t be jumping up and down at the thought of taking on Italy – twice – it’s worth noting that the Azzurri are no longer the easy beats they once were.
Italy enjoyed their best-ever Six Nations campaign this year, finishing fifth.
They recorded wins over Scotland (31-29) and Wales (24-21), drew with France (13-13), and narrowly lost to England (27-24).
History
South Africa and Italy have played 16 Tests in their history, with the Springboks winning 15 and losing one match.
The last time the Springboks hosted Italy was on 8 June 2013 in Durban, when South Africa won 44-10.
The most recent encounter between the two sides came in Genoa on 19 November 2022, when the Springboks triumphed 63-21.
The loss came in Florence in 2016 when Italy snuck a 20-18 victory.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| 12 November 1995 | Won 40-21 | Olympic Stadium, Rome |
| 8 November 1997 | Won 62-31 | Dall’Ara Stadium, Bologna |
| 12 June 1999 | Won 74-3 | Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |
| 19 June 1999 | Won 101-0 | Kings Park, Durban |
| 30 June 2001 | Won 60-14 | Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |
| 17 November 2001 | Won 54-26 | Luigi Ferraris Stadium, Genoa |
| 21 June 2008 | Won 26-0 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 21 November 2009 | Won 32-10 | Stadio Friuli, Udine |
| 19 June 2010 | Won 29-13 | Puma Stadium, Witbank |
| 26 June 2010 | Won 55-11 | Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London |
| 8 June 2013 | Won 44-10 | Kings Park, Durban |
| 22 November 2014 | Won 22-6 | Stadio Euganeo, Padua |
| 19 November 2016 | Lost 20-18 | Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence |
| 25 November 2017 | Won 35-6 | Stadio Euganeo, Padua |
| 4 October 2019 | Won 49-3 | Shizuoka Stadium, Fukuroi |
| 19 November 2022 | Won 63-21 | Luigi Ferraris Stadium, Genoa |
Meanwhile, South Africa have own both their previous encounters against Georgia.
The first came at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, while the their only previous visit to South Africa resulted in defeat in Pretoria in 2021.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| 24 October 2003 | Won 46-19 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
| 2 July 2021 | Won 40-9 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
Thoughts on the Springboks facing Italy and Georgia?
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