South Africa wrapped up their Tri-Nations rugby preparations with a comfortable 26-0 win against Italy at Newlands on Saturday.

The Boks scored four tries, while at the same time keeping the visitors pointless. It was the third win in a row for new coach Peter de Villiers, who led the team to a 2-0 series win over Wales coming into this clash.

"The Italians were very physical in the forwards and we stood up to them well," said home captain Victor Matfield.

"The scrums and lineouts went well and we now have a good platform to build on for the Tri-Nations. It's going to be a tough two weeks before our first game in New Zealand."

The Boks, despite showing six changes from the side that beat Wales, made light work of the injury-hit Italians, even if the world champions managed to score just two tries in the first period.

They dominated at scrum and lineout time and also created more try-scoring chances than their Six Nations opponents. And considering heavy rain fell throughout much of the encounter, the Boks showed a willingness to play an expansive, running game.

The Boks, who enjoyed truck-loads of possession, scored their first try as early as the sixth minute after winger Bryan Habana launched a counter-attack from deep in the Boks' own half.

When Habana was stopped just over the half-way line, young flyhalf Frans Steyn kicked the ball behind the advancing Italian defenders, dashed through the gap, picked up the ball and dived over the line. It was wonderful individual skill from the 21-year-old who was playing in place of Butch James.

Another player who got a rare start, hooker Bismarck du Plessis - in place of regular skipper John Smit - scored his team's second and third tries a few minutes either side of the interval; both coming from the forwards driving over the line after captain Matfield had won ball in the lineout.

The Boks scored their fifth try after 55 minutes through powerful prop Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira, who finished off an impressive passage of play by the home side, which saw a number of backs and forwards handling the ball.

At 26-0 up, the Boks had made the game safe and while they created a few more try-scoring chances later in the game, the world champions failed to add to the four tries scored earlier on.

Italy, too, could have scored points late on, but some quality tackling by the Boks prevented the Six Nations team from crossing the line. Not even a late drop-goal attempt by flyhalf Luke McLean came close.

But the Nick Mallett-led Italians were certainly no pushovers, but then the Boks' attacking potential was also stifled by the wet weather.

"We're a young team and we showed no fear so I'm very happy," said Italy captain Leonardo Ghiraldini. "We ended up with no points on the board, but we never stopped trying."

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