A first half yellow card to Veroeshka Grain (centre) was followed by a red card to Aseza Hele (No 8) in the 50th minute, and when Luchell Hanekom (replacement hooker) was injured with 20 minutes to go, with no one left to replace her, the South Africans had to finish the game with 13 players.

Against an experienced team like Italy, that proved costly, but the Bok Women deserve credit for never giving up as they played some of their best rugby late in the game.

Despite winning an early scrum penalty, the South Africans struggled to impose themselves in the first half, with silly errors costing them opportunities to build momentum.

This was perfectly illustrated by the lineout from the penalty in the fourth minute. Italy stole the Boks' throw, spread the ball wide and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (fullback) found space on the outside to race away for the first try 90m downfield from where play originated.

Not long thereafter, a converted try by SA captain and prop Babalwa Latsha, after a patient build-up in the Italian 22, meant the scores were level at 7-7 after 10 minutes.

But the Italians read the Bok Women's defence perfectly, forced turnovers and found holes which they exploited. In the 12th minute, Italy wing Aura Muzzo scored their second try from a driving maul, and when Grain was yellow carded for a high tackle three minutes later, the host team had their backs against the wall.

They still defended well, but Italian flanker Alissa Ranuccini crashed over in the 24th minute to make it 19-7 for the visitors from Europe. To compound their problems, the Bok Women lost two key players to injury in the first half in Micke Gunter (hooker) and Tayla Kinsey (scrumhalf).

Libbie Janse van Rensburg on the attack for South Africa.

Flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg, who converted Latsha's try, and Beatrice Capomaggi (centre), who converted two of Italy's three tries, traded penalies to see the teams go into the break with the visitors leading by 22-10.

Janse van Rensburg closed the gap to nine points (22-13) with her second penalty goal in the 48th minute, but Hele was red carded for head-to-head contact in the tackle a minute later.

Another minute later, and it was 29-13 as Vittoria Vecchini (hooker) scored Italy's fourth try as they kept on finding holes in the SA defence.

However, the Bok Women refused to lie down and just before the hour mark, Byrhandre Dolf (wing) scored her first Test try after South Africa again showed great patience on attack in the Italian 22.

Disaster struck at the same time though as Hanekom, who had replaced Gunter earlier, was injured and forced to leave the field.

As South Africa didn't have a suitable replacement, they lost another player as the referee ordered uncontested scrums for the remainder of the game.

Playing with only 13 women galvanised the Bok Women as they played with more composure, testing the Italian defence as they kept possession.

Pressing hard for a third try, the Bok Women were punished when Alyssa D'Inca (wing) intercepted on Italy's 10m line and raced 60m downfield to all but seal the deal, with just over five minutes to go.

Scorers:

Springbok Women 18 (10) - Tries: Babalwa Latsha, Byrhandre Dolf. Conversion: Libbie Janse van Rensburg. Penalty goals: Janse van Rensburg (2).

Italy 36 (22) - Tries: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, Aura Muzzo, Alissa Ranuccini, Vittoria Vecchini, Alyssa D'Inca. Conversions: Beatrice Capomaggi (3). Penalty goals: Capomaggi.