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By Jacques van der Westhuyzen Udine
The Springboks have lost only three Test matches this year on their way to capturing a series against the British and Irish Lions, winning the Tri-Nations and rising to number one in the world.
They are a formidable force in world rugby, and have enjoyed probably their best year ever - but today against Italy, the Boks face a different challenge altogether. They are not playing a match to win a series or competition; they are playing to restore their status as World Champions.
While the Test team have lost only once on tour - against France in Toulouse last Friday - the Springboks go into today's match on the back of three defeats. The Dirt-trackers also lost their two matches against Leicester and Saracens.
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Bok skipper John Smit is clear about the Boks losing three on the trot. "It's not happened too often that we've lost three in a row. It's important we generate an effort worthy of winning this Test - something we have not done up to now.
"Italy have improved massively so this is going to be a big challenge. But the important thing is that we have to go back to the standards we have set for ourselves and achieved over the last year. We're not concerning ourselves with any other team. This is about us as a group and the standards we need to achieve to win."
The Boks have certainly not been at their best on tour and they struggled in Toulouse last Friday, so Smit's got it 100 percent right when he says there needs to be a big improvement today. This Bok side is capable of far better a performance.
But complicating matters for them today is the fact that so many changes have been made to the side. The new-look front row of Smit, Adriaan Strauss and Wian du Preez doesn't inspire much confidence, especially when one considers the formidable Italy front row.
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