Rugby supporters worldwide are gearing up for Round 4 of the Nations Championship 2026, where the winless Azzurri host the unbeaten world champion Springboks at Turin's Allianz Stadium. Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada enters this high-stakes fixture dealing with an extensive injury list, forcing him to make 10 changes to his side following a difficult 57-10 loss to Australia back in July. Meanwhile, South Africa manager Rassie Erasmus brings the reigning world champions to Italy despite missing several key starters due to ongoing injuries, setting the stage for a compelling international clash.
Key takeaways
- Italy hosts South Africa at Turin's Allianz Stadium for Round 4 of the Nations Championship 2026.
- The match streams for free via RugbyPass TV in the US, ITVX in the UK, and Virgin Media Play in Ireland.
- Italy's Gonzalo Quesada made 10 squad changes due to injuries, while South Africa's Rassie Erasmus opted for a 6-2 bench split.
- Fans traveling outside their home countries can use VPN services to access their local free-to-air broadcasts.
Azzurri squad changes and Springbok lineup challenges
The Italian national team faces a monumental challenge against the world champions while missing several regular contributors. Captain Michele Lamaro, centers Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex, as well as Sebastian Negri and Louis Lynagh, are completely absent from the lineup. Despite these setbacks, 25-year-old flanker Samuele Locatelli is named among the replacements and is set to make his international debut, while explosive runner Ange Capuozzo gets the nod on the wing. The home side hopes to channel the momentum from their impressive win against England earlier in 2026, even against rugby's most fearsome opponents.
On the opposing side, South Africa enters the fixture missing several frontline stars. Rassie Erasmus must navigate without injured players Cheslin Kolbe, Andre Esterhuizen, Eben Etzebeth, and Handre Pollard. Ethan Hooker steps in to replace Kolbe, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse rounding out the back three. Erasmus has opted for an unconventional 6-2 split on the bench rather than the traditional Bomb Squad configuration, placing Ox Nche in the front row and handing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu the starting No.10 shirt.
Global free streaming and international broadcast channels
Viewers located in the United States, United Kingdom, and Ireland benefit from free-to-air coverage options. In the US, RugbyPass TV provides free online streaming via its website and dedicated apps that support Chromecast, Airplay, AppleTV, and Android TV. UK supporters can tune into the linear television channel ITV1 or stream live through ITVX, provided they maintain a valid TV license and UK postcode. In Ireland, the fixture airs live on Virgin Media One alongside digital streaming via the Virgin Media Play platform.
Fans situated outside these designated free-access regions must rely on regional subscription broadcasters. Australian viewers can watch the match through Stan Sport, which requires an active Stan subscription starting at AU$9.99 per month plus an additional AU$20 per month for the sports tier. New Zealand broadcasts are handled by Sky Sport 1 NZ via satellite TV or the Sky Sport Now service, while South African supporters can tune in through Supersport with a DStv access package starting at Rs99 per month. Canadian fans can access the match through Premier Sports using monthly, six-month, or annual subscription passes.
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