Springboks thrash depleted Italy 66-7 with 9 tries in Nations Championship rugby

TURIN, Italy (AP) — World champion South Africa smothered a depleted Italy 66-7 as predicted in Nations Championship rugby on Saturday.The Springboks scored nine tries, all converted, at Juventus Stadium. A halftime lead of 45-0 and Italy's weak defense hinted at the Springboks threatening a rare century but errors crept in, the intensity was reduced, and Italy rediscovered its pride.South Africa improved to 4-0 in the championship and boosted its aim to make the final by giving its points differential lead over New Zealand a huge bump. The Boks play Six Nations champion France in Paris on Friday.Italy dropped to 0-4 with Argentina and Fiji to come. The Azzurri were missing a clutch of injured front-liners but played noticeably better when replacement halves Stephen Varney and Tommaso Allan arrived after an hour.Despite one loss in history to Italy, and 10 years ago, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus picked an uncompromising side based on the Greatest Rivalry series win over New Zealand two months ago. They hit the ground running.___See AP’s full rugby coverage here