FLORENCE, Italy — Italy claimed its first victory over South Africa Saturday, stunning the southern hemisphere giants 20-18 in Florence in what visiting coach Allister Coetzee called the darkest moment of his career.
A delirious home crowd gave their team, ranked 13th in the world, a standing ovation after the match as the fourth-ranked visitors formed a lonely huddle mid-pitch, reviving memories of their shock loss to Japan in last year's World Cup.
Both sides scored two tries, but Italy fed off repeated South Africa mistakes and grew in confidence as the game wore on.
"I am extremely proud," veteran Italy captain Sergio Parisse said, calling it the best day for Italian rugby as the team continued its adventure under new coach Conor O'Shea.
The Irishman, supported by former England international Mike Catt as attack coach, has taken Italy back to basics, raised the intensity of training and adopted bold new tactics.
"For us, this is just a start but it's a very good one," O'Shea told reporters.
His South African counterpart Coetzee, facing mounting calls for him to be sacked, described it as embarrassing.
"It's the darkest moment of my coaching career," Coetzee told a news conference as his stony-faced captain, Adriaan Strauss, a cut above his left eye, stared into mid-air.
"For us there is a mountain to climb and as a group we have to take full responsibility," he added.
England runs riot against Fiji
England scored nine tries, including two each for Jonathan Joseph, Semesa Rokoduguni and Joe Launchbury, to rack up a record 58-15 victory over an out-gunned Fiji, taking Eddie Jones' winning run to 11 matches.
With Owen Farrell and George Ford pulling the strings, England had the game wrapped up when it led 31-0 after 27 minutes at Twickenham — a stark contrast to last week when it looked so rusty in the opening exchanges with South Africa.
Fiji enjoyed a brief spell of dominance either side of halftime when it scored three tries but it was a temporary reprieve and England regained total control and produced some high class and entertaining rugby.
Its defense will have to tighten for tougher Tests ahead against Argentina and Australia but several fringe players grabbed their opportunity as Jones continues to build a squad with enough real depth to challenge for the 2019 World Cup.
Wales survives huge scare against Japan
Replacement flyhalf Sam Davies's last-gasp drop goal gave Wales a 33-30 win over a feisty Japan side in a thrilling test at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff Saturday.
Wales was given a big fright when replacement back Amanaki Lotoahea raced down the right wing for a try which flyhalf Yu Tamura converted to put the 2019 World Cup hosts level at 30-30 with five minutes remaining.
The Welsh were indebted to 15 points from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny as they were never allowed a breather by a Japan side which hit back every time the hosts looked like pulling away.
"Fair play to Sam Davies stepping up at end," Wales captain Sam Warburton told the BBC. "It was a get out of jail free card. Every time we scored we let them back in which is disappointing. After gaining momentum we took two steps back."
Japan number eight Amanaki Mafi, voted man of the match, said: "It is not the result we wanted, but we played for the entire 80 minutes and I'm really proud of our players.”
