Wow

I'm still drained. One and a half days later. What a performance.

At one stage of the match I imagined myself being interviewed as an old man - one of the last alive to have seen the Boks beat New Zealand in New Zealand. Forgive me for my doubts. Before Ricky Januarie's moment of brilliance, I thought we had been beaten again.

As South Africans we're never as stubborn as when we have our backs to the wall. Sometimes that backfires like at Twickenham in 2002. Perhaps that is when we give up on the thought of winning, but refuse to leave without hurting the opposition. Sometimes it works when we refuse to give an inch as we wait for a moment of weakness.

205 tackles to 89. Talk about not giving an inch. Januarie's try. Talk about maximum return on a moment of weakness. It was classic Springbok trench warfare. Repelling waves of All Black attacks in the second half. Talk about belief.

Reason to celebrate

Bryan Habana cried tears of joy at the end. Teammates erupted in joy when Januarie scored. South Africa rejoiced that not only had they built on their world champion status, they had done it in the best way possible. By beating the pretenders to their throne, at the venue where they have never won. If the All Blacks could have named an occasion to prove their claim that the Boks would have lost the World Cup to them had it not been for a poor call by a referee, it would have been a Tri-nations match in Dunedin.

But it was more significant than just that. As is so often the South African case, it was an occasion when many harboured doubts about South Africa's first non-white coach and after an acrimonious week of accusations and counters between the All Blacks and Boks after Wellington.

Reason for hope

Pieter de Villiers was magnanimous in victory yesterday. In the immediate post-match interview, it was easy to see the relief as the coach pleaded for patience from South African fans. He said we were not yet the best but that we would grow.

South Africa is again rated the best team in the world according to the rankings and the reigning world champions. It would be easy to claim greatness.

But stand in captain for the last eight minutes of the match, Jean de Villiers was equally humble.

For good reason. South Africa returned to the familiar recipe of playing off their opponents mistakes. It is a game that few other nations can succeed at. It demands sacrifice of bodies and pain, absorbing pressure and believing in your team mates. It took 22 tackles from Schalk Burger and the turnaround of a pack beaten into submission the week before.

We have some way to go before we create our own opportunities and before we start as favourites against an All Black team at full strength. But that is a journey that starts with winning matches away and building momentum.

Yesterday marked the beginning of that journey. It marked the move from Pieter de Villier's stated desire on beginning his job, to improve the team by 40% and introduce a new brand of attacking brand of rugby. At least he made these claims whilst chasing the core of the World Cup Bok team and returning players from Europe to create a platform for growth. Yesterday marked a return to this sensibility. Before we can seek to retain ball as the All Blacks did in the second half, and attack our opponents through multi-phase ball, we need to create the belief first based on our strengths.

Where to improve

We almost fell victim to the All Black second half surge yesterday. We played for most of the game without the ball. We kicked many balls straight back down the middle of the park. We committed limited numbers to the breakdown and won precious few turnovers. Our chase on our kicks was often poor and our support of the ball carrier not always optimal.

It asks a lot of a team to repel more than 10 phases, kick the ball downfield, and then have the ball run back and repel again. Often games like yesterday's are lost by fractions rather than won by similar amounts.

But the guts and bravery are the platform to change that. It is easier to improve a winning effort than a losing one. It creates the space for players like Butch who is struggling for form and who had another poor game yesterday. It creates the space to begin to target weak opposition rucks for turnovers. It creates the belief required for first phase set piece moves.

Having said that the improvement in last week's effort in Wellington was appreciable. Most notably in the scrums. Hats off to the South African forwards and the coaching staff. Matfield was certainly better and imperious in the lineouts. JP Pietersen's selection was a masterstroke. Bismark du Plessis was solid in the scrums and the loose. Thanks goodness his lineouts held up too.

Januarie deserved the man of the match based on a two week effort. I thought he was even better in the Wellington losing effort. But the moment of brilliance of this week won the game for the Boks, and his mongrel boosts the whole team.

Looking ahead

Robbie Deans represents a huge threat. His tactical appreciation combined with Australian skill levels pose a real challenge in Perth. Together with the loss of Bismark du Plessis to a banning and Butch's lack of form, the Boks will have their work cut out.

I believe the challenge will shift from a physical one to tactical nous. Our kicking game will have to be pinpoint. We have to force territorial dominance and from there look to create opportunities off lineouts and around the ruck and maul. Our support play will have to improve as will our chase of our kicks.

I believe the shift will require a commanding game from pivot. Given Butch's form, I'd want Grant on the bench and Steyn in the starting lineup. I think the World Cup final backline lineup matches the need. I'd use Steyn at first center and Monty to alternate kicking from the flyhalf channel. Of course this is a tough call on Adi Jacobs who I think has been outstanding. Grant covers Steyn at first center too though and gives extra options.

Bismark du Plessis' ban is a headache. I'd fly over Adriaan Strauss from the Free State which I see is also the Bok coaching staff choice.

My lineup for Perth:

15. Montgomery 14. Habana 13. De Villiers 12. Steyn 11. Pietersen 10. James 9. Januarie 8. Van Nierkerk 7. Smith 6. Burger 5. Matfield 4. Botha. 3. Van der Linde
2. Brits 1. Steenkamp

Reserves: Jantjies, Grant, Pienaar, Bekker, Watson, Strauss, Mujati

Player ratings from Dunedin:

Montgomery - 6: Added experience and calmness to the team and got the Boks off to a good start by goaling his kicks. Fielded the ball well with one or two exceptions.

Habana - 6: Hardly involved on attack. Solid in defence.

Jacobs - 7: Fantastic defence and marked two weeks of showing up his critics and repaying his coach's faith in him

De Villiers - 8: Another brilliant defensive performance and another leader on the field. Should be captain in Smit's absence.

Pietersen - 7: What a return. First try of the season after an awful Super 14. Brilliant selection by De Villiers.

James - 5: Really out of form. Some poor kicks, a missed tackle that led to the All Black try and regression in his defensive technique. Perhaps his form is contributing to his trying to make his mark on the game through being overly physical.

Januarie - 8: Just fantastic.I thought he was even better overall in Wellington. But his try was one of those moments to remember - it won us the match and repaid the hard defensive work put in by the whole team.

Van Niekerk - 7: Much happier behind a stronger pack. Played more of a linking game. Made some good tackles.

Smith - 7: Good defensive effort in the tackle and at the breakdown.

Burger - 8: Did the work of three men. The Boks were totally reliant on him in defence and at ruck and maul time. He needs support. If he were injured again, the Boks would be in serious trouble.

Matfield - 7: A much better performance. Has to be given credit as captain for the team effort. Was brilliant in the lineout. Still not a force at the breakdown leaving all the cleaning to Botha and Smith.

Botha - 8: Just incredible at the breakdown. Physically and psychologically hurt the opposition with his cleaning out and tackles.

Van Der Linde - 7: What a turnaround. Restored strength to the front row and removed the All Black dominance in the set piece.

Du Plessis - 6: Some great tackles and a solid lineout performance.

Steenkamp - 7: Did well at scum time and again made tackles all over the park - second only to Schalk.

Reserves:

Bekker - 7: Came on and got stuck in. Made his tackles and helped fill the immense role Bakkies had played prior to injury.

Watson - 4: It was strange to see him on. Again, not really his style of game and he did not look like he wanted to be there.

Steyn - 6: Slotted the winning conversion under pressure. Added another kicking option. Kicks downfield allowed the All Blacks to run the ball back, however may have been playing to a pattern.

Jantjies - 6: solid replacement.

Mujati, Pienaar: not on long enough for an assessment.

Coaching staff - 9: Real guts to turn it around from Wellington. Humility to acknowledge they got it wrong and change the pattern. Selection of Pietersen was inspired. Guts to return Monty for Jantjies despite the latter's really good performance last week.

A tale of two halves

Jeez. Gutted. Another test in New Zealand test lost.

That first half was a vintage All Black Springbok clash. All the intensity, bravery, passion.The rucks were ferocious and the defence committed. Thrilling stuff and I definitely got the feeling I was watching the two best teams in the world.

It started with the Haka. As always, it seems like you can tell so much with the way New Zealand lines up for the challenge. The hunger was apparent. And it just looked like it was a team out to prove they were not completely dependent on Richie McCaw. The pre-match hype about "South Africa's best chance in New Zealand" and "Take them with McCaw out" must have inspired the All Blacks to play for Soialo.

I think the All Black side always hits you at a million miles an hour out of the shed. They were no different today. What made this vintage was the Bok counter. John Smit was every bit Captain Fantastic. He led the challenge at ruck time with Burger and Bakkies in fantastic support.

But it was clear even when we were playing so well that Matfield was a spectator. Maybe it was because the All Blacks managed to keep the pressure on and force our kicks and lineouts on their own throw. The first 7 lineouts were all All Black throw-ins and they won them all. Matfield was anonymous and deserved a rocket for his lack of presence at the breakdown. It has never been his strength and it has always been very clear he would rather play center than graft in the rucks. The exception was against the All Blacks at Newlands in August 2005. Somebody should play that match to the Boks before every All Black test. Matfield should have in on permanent repeat. It was the perfect Bok pack performance in 2005. It was nowhere near that today. It said everything that we had an extra player in the rucks when Monty came on.

Speaking of pack performances, the All Black front row is without peer in World rugby - because of their props. Somerville and Woodcock were unbelievable. If we had got the go-forward in the pack in the first half, this might have been a different game. Somerville and Woodcock made sure that didn't happen. Nothing against Steenkamp, Van Der Linde or Mujati - and especially Smit or Du Plessis. The counter was courageous but always on the back foot.

I thought our starting back row was inspirational. Burger, Van Niekerk and Smith were fantastic and it was questionable subbing Van Niekerk in the second half. Burger and Botha carried team at rucks and Botha deserves all the plaudits in the world for that. The two also showed an enormous work rate around the park making tackle after tackle. Those talking of Matfield being off the pace considering his recent play in the French second league should consider Burger has had 20 minutes since his knee ligament injury.

Backline - encouraging but not controlling

In the back, the back three proved to everyone they were safe under the high ball. Now and again Ndugane's positional play may have been questioned as Carter kicked into space behind his wing. Carter was every bit the world's best flyhalf today - on attack and defence.

Ndugane and Jacobs showed their critics up with solid defensive efforts. Jacobs showed good touches on attack too and was directly responsible for putting De Villiers into space to create Habana's try.

But the player of the day for the Boks was Januarie. He is back to his best form. He used to be the perfect player against Gregan because he managed to get up Georgie's nose. Today he was much more than that. He played the scrummie role to perfection. Quick service and getting the ball out without enough protection from clearing players at the ruck. He kicked from the base and controlled his aggression. It was mystery why he was subbed by Conradie.

Second half psychology

We lost the match when we came on psychologically behind in the second half. World Champions who had just scored going into the half time break 8-9 behind should have inspired the team to come back believing it was only a matter of time before we took the lead. Instead those first 15 minutes were all All Blacks as we looked devoid of tactics. Butch needed to seize control. He was strangely off today and coughed a lot. Maybe he was sick. If so, it needed a decisive substitution early in the second half.

Steyn was not the player to take control. While his 60m almost-drop was astonishing, the charge down of his kick from his line was all-too familiar. I would have brought Monty on at flyhalf early in the second half and brought Steyn on on Odwa's wing to add some spark. Monty would have added an experienced controlling head. Odwa was courageous but was bounced off in three tackles due to a high body position. If he starts next week he has to go lower and drive into the tackle.

Our substitution tactics showed the coaching team tried to change the team to play to the ball and catch up rugby. The need for Watson for Van Niekerk and Steyn at flyhalf at 60 minutes were the result of the wrong tactics at the beginning of the second half.

The other aspect of our play today that worried me greatly was lack of support for ball carriers at the back or out wide. We conceded a number of turnovers as the All Blacks committed numbers to the chase. Conversely we never committed numbers to the chase.

Dunedin challenge

I'm not sure what the injury situation is, but Bekker coming on for Bakkies must have been injury enforced. That leaves question marks over Smit, Bakkies, Van Der Linde and Butch. Which is a serious worry for Dunedin.

The pressure is now on De Villiers. He has lost his first test and the loss breaks the Bok 12-match winning run. We have to sort out the front row prior to Dunedin. Gold's work will be cut out for him. De Villiers must consider his substitution strategy too. He has to use the Bok World Cup Final experience better. By merely re-constituting that World Cup Final backline, he'd add confidence. He needn't start with it - Jantjies was brilliant today - but if he'd reorganised 5 minutes into the second half today, I think Jantjies, Steyn, Jacobs, De Villiers, Monty, Habana would have looked like he'd brought on the stars to close out the game.

We've never won in Dunedin. Decisiveness is required to change that next week.

Ratings

Jantjies - 8: A very good performance from South Africa's form fullback. Solid under the high ball and good on the counter.

Ndugane - 6: Solid generally, but bounced out of three tackles close to his line. Needs to drive into the tackle with lower body position.

Jacobs - 7: Under huge pressure to prove his coach right going into the match. Set up the Bok try. Solid in defence.

De Villiers - 6: Should have been made captain when Smit went off. Solid and committed in the tackle. Great run to put Habana away. Also drove forward in the tackle making valuable metres on attack.

Habana - 6: Covered well around the park and scored a good try. Seldom put into space but was not really the weather for his kind of rugby.

James - 5: Strangely off. Needed to control the game but never looked confident. Coughed a lot and looked sick.

Januarie - 9: Outstanding. Under pressure on our own ball, was always there to clear before conceding a turnover. Courageous tackling. Controlled aggression.

Van Niekerk - 7: Grafting role required in the weather which he played well. The scrum never dominated resulting in a lack of a platform for his usual pick ups from the back.

Smith - 6: Solid grafting role. Vintage blindside play in the first half where he was required to play the hard yards.

Burger - 7: Unbelievable to consider he has had 20 minutes of game time since knee ligament damage. Huge tackles and workrate. Cleared rucks and led the forward charge.

Matfield - 3: Very poor. Complete lack of commitment. Possibly because he denied a starriing role in the lineouts early on by All Black tactics. But you have to question him not getting into first gear given the importance of the match.

Botha - 8: Wow. Tireless work rate at the rucks, controlled aggression, got around the park in support. Fantastic.

Van Der Linde - 5: Suffered in the scrums. Left with an apparent injury. Things actually looked like they improved when Mujati came on.

Smit - 7: Hugely valuable as a captain, scrummager and in the tight loose. His loss to injury is extremely worrying and robbed the Boks of direction in the game.

Steenkamp - 6: Good workrate around the park and improved in the scrums as the game went on.

Substitutions

Montgomery - 6: Showed the experience in putting a kick for position into touch downfield when nothing else was on. We needed the tactical appreciation throughout the second half.

Mujati - 6: Did very well considering doubts over his ability to stand up to the All Black front row. Looked like he improved the scrum when Van Der Linde went off.

Steyn - 5: Almost pulled off a 60m drop. But the charge down of his kick from his line showed his mercurial nature. He has never looked as good as when he played inside center in the World Cup. It seemed this allowed him to play a role where less decision making pressure was required and he had the support of experience on his inside and outside. Given how Jacobs played, he needs to re-establish himself as a first choice in the squad - and the coaches need to agree his role is at 12.

Watson - 5: Not the game for Watson - weather and match position didn't suit his style.

Du Plessis - 6: Started very poorly and got in the way of good attack ball in the backs. Gradually improved.

Bekker, Conradie: Not enough game to comment.

Coaching staff - 5: Got the second half completely wrong. But disrupted by losing Smit.

Four more years

Gregan's chant must be ringing in the All Blacks' ears right now. And ironically too, like a boomerang, back in the ears of Georgie.

What a day! If the Tri-Nations are the top three in world rugby, we've picked a funny way to show it. After all the self congratulatory commentary about the state of Northern hemisphere rugby during the World Cup pool games, Australia and New Zealand were reminded that rugby is a game between 30 mere mortals and with an oval shaped ball. Passion and bounce can upset the odds.

While both England and France played with passion and surely enjoyed the bounce of the ball, both set out with well laid out plans to beat their more fancied opponents. England targeted the Super 14 style three man rucks with committed numbers and counter rucking. France decided that playing in the opposition's half was half the battle.

England break down the Aussies

England were magnificent at the breakdown today. Shaw and Moody were ferocious. And it is about time. Of course committing numbers to the ruck opens up defensive holes in your own line. But in a modern game where turnover ball remains the most potent attacking threat, attacking key breakdowns unlocks ball and space. The Australians were shell shocked. They tried guile to win at scrum time, and after the English were initially penalised, Alain Rolland appeared to realise that Dunning is the Oscar winner we've all been pointing out. His collapsing of scrums is the Aussies' only way of gaining parity at the set piece. With the forwards that rattled, the backs were left with too much to do. Except for one moment of brilliance from new kid Berrick Barnes. His wrap around with Aussie dummy runners was vintage Eddie Jones and Barnes' Reds/Jones pedigree was easy to see. If the Aussies' had secured better ball, Tuqiri's try from the move would surely have been one of many. They didn't and the English passion, commitment and robust play paid off.

Despite having kicked the points, Johnny Wilkinson looks a shadow of his former self. Not even his kicking is a patch on what it was. He's showed patches of from thus far and one or two touches against the Tongans got the English into the quarters. But he's a player short of match practice. As bad as Catt was against South Africa, he was immense today. When Catt and Wilkinson click, the English are a different team. If they do next week, we could see England in the final.

All Blacks choke again

The French promised similar things. They attacked the first few breakdowns with similar freneticism. But the All Blacks pedigree is better than that of the Aussies, and they immediately committed more numbers. The French played for position as we knew they would. Jake White's scepticism at the game plan looked well-founded as the French looked innocuous and the All Blacks responded with some sublime McAlister brilliance. Twice he ran the French ragged, first almost putting Ali Williams over and finally went over himself to put the All Blacks well ahead.

But McAlister proved mercurial and from the highs the plunged to the low of being sent off for obstructive running early in the second half. The French took full advantage and Thierry Dusautoir was a deserved scorer as they pulled the game back.

The famous French counter attack allowed Jauzion to cancel out a So'oialo effort. As the Gallic spirit grew, they repelled 27 phases of largely pick-and-go attacks on their line before forcing an All Black knock on. It was typical of the French defence which saw them make 178 tackles to the All Blacks 36. Ultimately it won them the day.

The All Blacks were in it right until the end though. At 18 to 20 down, a drop goal would have done it and they had an ample chance 22m out on the 75th minute. Instead McAlister tried a 50m effort just before full time. It summed up World Cup history for the All Blacks. Should've, would've, could've.

Good for the game

Was this good for rugby? Any win that exemplifies spirit and passion is good for the game. We saw bloodied England players give it all. We saw one of the bravest players in the game, Serge Betson, in a brave but ultimately horrific moment put his body on the line to make a tackle. Luckily he looked OK if shaky when he left the field. Finally, we saw tactical nous win over reputation. So yes, a great day's rugby.

Something strange happened to the referees though. In both matches, the new ruck laws were hardly blown. The English flew into rucks and clearly went of their feet. There were moments when there were clearly boots on players. But the whistle wasn't blown. The officials also missed two clear forward passes (at least) in the French All Black game. While I loved the return to old style rucking and resultant competition rather than league style restarts, if we're going to have laws they have to be blown. Just as if we're going to have citing, then be consistent. Not knowing how the game is going to be controlled makes things lottery. And that is no good for a game looking to convert viewers already confused by strange rules and interpretations.

Of course every South African (especially me) wants to see the Springboks beat each of the top teams en route to winning a final, a la 1995. But we must play the hand we're dealt. That starts by being ruthless against Fiji tomorrow. While Fiji shouldn't have a chance, "should" played no role today.

The Bok problems are systemic

This post is also being carried on Ou Grote and Ruggaworld

Schalk Burger makes yet another tackle during the match against the All Blacks - Photo: Getty Images

Let's get this straight - South African rugby is in a a better state on the playing field than it has been in many years. We currently have the best depth of talent of any rugby nation. Sadly, off the field and possibly at Bok level, things fall apart.

Coming back to win against the Aussies last week was a tick against the character of the Bok side. Whether it should have required two brilliant drop goals or have been settled through taking earlier penalties is a moot point.

However, let's also be blatantly honest about the last few weeks. We have not once hit our straps. Not even for a 20 minute period. By hitting our straps, I'm talking about putting it all together like the Bulls did against the Reds to win their place in a semi-final. Of course, those days don't happen very often. Not for a full 80 minutes. But consider one thing - watch yesterday's test against the All Blacks and marvel at them clicking for about ten minutes between about about the 27th and the 37th minutes. The interplay between backs and forwards was breathtaking, as was their retention, lack of mistakes, support play and running lines.

Now consider the overall pattern of Bok play. It is difficult to pick out a period where the Boks looked breathtaking. Could this be the beginning of the payoff of Graham Henry's conditioning program and the impact of some very hard rugby on the Boks? That's the excuse Jake made after the match. Besides the fact that the All Blacks might benefit from the conditioning program and that they might be beginning to find one another in a way that a side can only do through playing together, I'm not buying the "Boks are tired" excuse. Of course the injury to John Smit is proving to be massive. Of course the Boks are missing their world class finisher, Habana. And of course, Hougaard might have been a better bet to close out yesterday's game than Frans Steyn, but looking for excuses there misses the bigger problems.

Captaincy

Despite Heyneke Meyer's opinions to the contrary, Victor Matfield is not even a captain's arse. Sure a captain needs to have the players' respect and preferably be the best in his position. However, reading the game's state of play remains the elusive quality in South African captaincy ranks. There have been remarkably few captains in South Africa, at provincial or national level, that have been able to read the game and alter tactics. In recent times, Bobby Skinstad stands out and possibly Gary Teichman. There have been others who could get their teams to win through loyalty and bloody mindedness, but that approach takes its toll. In days gone by, Micheal du Plessis was one of the finest readers of the game I've ever seen. Naas was pretty good. Morne du Plessis was one of those thinkers and motivators. We really don't have too many players like that around at the moment.

Scrumming

For some reason we believe we have the birthright to dominate at scrum time. Let's just kill that idea once and for all. As powerful a player as Os still is. As world class as our locks are. As big as some of our loosies are. We have looked average in every match this season - England, Samoa, Australia and now New Zealand. Let's also give John Smit his due. His absence must have reddened a few faces in Pretoria and that of Stofile. The impact of Smit's loss at scrum time and in captaincy has been immense. If all it does is to shut up the maniacal Gary Botha / one eyed Bulls supporters who call into Super Rugby on a Monday and rant about Gary Botha's divine right to don the green and gold, then perhaps we're closer to getting real with ourselves.

Structure and options

Of late, many have criticised South African coaches for coaching creativity out of players. This may well be true. However, general principles do apply. Attacking off turnover ball, playing for position when up on the scoreboard, running lines, etc. David Campese made an observation after the Australia test. He said that he believes support players should be calling the running lines and attack, not the ball carrier - this prevents isolation. Whether he's right or wrong, it is the absence of these types of principles that often results in poor option taking and lack of structure on the field. Somewhere in the second quarter yesterday, the Boks won a fantastic turnover just inside their half. What happened? Butch kicked the ball.

At around the 65th minute yesterday, the Boks suddenly remembered the pick and go as a tactic. They tried about 5 of them before getting smashed and conceding the turnover. Making the right choices spontaneously comes from hours of practice and experience. Making the right choices according to the field position, ball quality and match situation comes from leadership, communication and planning.

Rucking

Those of you who know me, know that I believe this is the number one issue with South African rugby. Yesterday showed this up again. People can point to individuals all they like, but we have to acknowledge that our ruck-time patterns are just horribly wrong. In the nineties, rugby science began to question the optimal numbers committed to rucks and the impact on next-phase attacks or defence. Whatever the conclusions, the result has been that our rucks have lost their optimum patterns and some players do not commit at all.

Rucks need the right combinations of players to work. An attacking ruck needs good ball carriers, good supporting runners, cleaners and quick service. A defensive ruck needs good contesting (through the fetcher / opensider) and good pressure through committed counter rucking. Both defensive and offensive rusks need clearly aligned support for the next phase.

The offensive ruck provides the best opportunity for penetrating the stronger defences of today. While lineouts suck in the majority of forwards and allow the start of the maul, rucks allow teams multi-phase play with potential quick ball and allow the attacking team to more precisely control the position and timing of the attack. Quick ruck-time ball remains a deadly threat to even the best defensive teams. Depending on the field position and state of the opposition defensive lines, the attacking team may choose to pick-and-go, break and set up a maul, swing the ball wide, suck in players and kick for space, or set up another ruck. Further, ball carriers can choose the point of impact and use this to target players in the other team, committing them to the ruck on defence. Defending the ruck saps energy and opens up space. To make this work, playing patterns need to be precise. As much as we are moving towards the uniformly large, fast and strong rugby player, eighth-men and closed-siders tend to make better ball carriers, locks tend to make better cleaners and front rowers tend to provide better support in the later phases. Combinations need to work together on the optimal running lines to ensure the ball carrier is not isolated and that target point of attack is committed. The reason for the roles of each forward is often as simple as the fact that the first phase is often a scrum and those roles are determined by the break-up pattern of the forwards. But clearly their physical attributes play a role.

Back to Springbok rugby, and the commitment of the players to this pattern is limited. Yesterday's game clearly showed Matfield's liability at ruck time and Bakkies' lack of fitness (he was again fantastic for the first 30 minutes, Matfield was pretty much absent throughout). Consider the possession stats that saw the Boks with more than 60% up after 30 minutes and end on just above 40%. Look also at the loose forward combination. As big and strong as Schalk Burger is, and as awesome a ball carrier as Bobby Skinstad is, they're lost without the supporting pattern. The typical break from the base of the scrum was a good example of the disaster. Under pressure from the Boks' poor scrum, resultant wheel to the wrong side and opposition scrummie on his heels, Skinstad was always in a poor position to pick up and carry. While Schalk was immense and a good partner for Bobby, Roussouw seemed a little slow. From there things fell apart, with the backs more often than not committing to support in the absence of the locks. Pienaar often struggled to get clean second phase ball, and as a result the backline again looked devoid of any potency on attack.

It's easy to blame De Villiers for looking poor on the back of this, but in reality, few backs can create without any space and with slow ball.

Lack of fluency

Having said that De Villiers has been the victim of poor quality ball is not to excuse him for his part in the paper tiger that is our Springbok backline. He looks nothing like the player once rated the most exciting inside centre in world rugby. Outside him, Jaques Fourie has looked undercooked. And of course, being a wing outside that lot means you're never going to score unless from broken play. For years now we've lamented the lack of involvement of our wings and cheered only when they've looked for work. We've decried the limited times that Monty has joined the line. Fix the basics and that will change.

Wayne Julies deserves to wear the Bok 12 right now. His superior distribution might just fire Jaque Fourie. Failing that, given Jake's apparent intention to rest his first choice team, Waylon Murray might be worth testing outside him on the away leg of the Tri-Nations.

However, without securing better quality of ball from scrums and rucks, without thought as to patterns and structures according to the state of the game, our backline will continue to look prosaic.

What works

There is no doubt we possess the best lineout in world rugby. Matfield and Botha are peerless as jumpers at 2, 3, 4 and 5. As with all things though, we tend to overplay our strength. Of course the lineout offers one of the best attacking platforms from five meters out. And of course being able to compete on the opposition's ball allows for fantastic attacking potential.

Jake's consistency is selection has benefits. His belief in Ashwin Willemse might just be rewarded. For a guy to have been out for so long to play with the hunger and workrate Willemse did yesterday is remarkable. Monty is in sublime form at the moment and provides the team with dependability, if not always under the high ball. Butch looked better yesterday than he has and provides a safe option at flyhalf. His distribution needs work though and he needs to run on to the ball more - he's currently a little flat footed.

The most important thing going for the Boks at the moment is the self-belief they seem to have post their good Super 14. Perhaps these losses will make use stronger in blunting possible arrogance. However, the problems we have have existed for a long time. It is asking a lot to overcome them suddenly prior to the world cup.

The Tri-Nations away leg

Jake's squad has been announced and his strategy is to rest his top players. The squad is:

Johan Ackermann, Eddie Andrews, Gary Botha, Deon Carstens, Tonderai Chavhanga, Michael Claassens, Bolla Conradie, Bismarck Du Plessis, Jannie Du Plessis, Bevin Fortuin, Peter Grant, Derick Hougaard, Wayne Julies, Hilton Lobberts, Johann Muller, Waylon Murray, Wynand Olivier, Breyton Paulse, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jaco Pretorius, Bob Skinstad, Albert van den Berg, Wikus van Heerden, AJ Venter, Cobus Visagie, Pedrie Wannenburg, Luke Watson.

As usual, some of White's choices are baffling. Chavanga's long absence does him no favours. How Claassens gets in ahead of the in form Heini Adams boggles the mind. Fortuin's fantastic 2006 season form was not carried into 2007. Breyton Paulse remains the best organiser of the Bok rush defence, but was woefully out of form in the Super 14, short on workrate and pace. Eddie Andrews' name will have many people tearing their hair out. Jaco Pretorius remains a curate's egg.

On the plus side, White has either been overruled or been prepared to reconsider Cobus Visagie and Luke Watson despite his previously stated views on both. The promising form of Peter Grant (apparently sublime for the Emerging Boks) has been recognised.

My match 22 for the away leg would be (regardless of the selected squad - but with resting, testing and giving existing players a chance to build continuity in mind):

Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Waylon Murray, Wayne Julies, Odwa Ndungane, Peter Grant, Ruan Pienaar, Bob Skinstad (captain), AJ Venter, Luke Watson, Ross Skeate, Johan Ackerman, Cobus Visagie, Bismark du Plessis, Deon Carstens. Substitutes: Derick Hougaard, Heini Adams, Pedrie Wannenberg, Hilton Lobberts, CJ van der Linde, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Frankly, I believe that a test is a test and I hate the thought of losing due to resting first choice players en mass. I'd rather see rotation happening over the long term and in an organised fashion. However, we are where we are. The danger is that we might well provide the All Blacks with just the step up they require to regain the fluency in their game we caught only a glimpse of yesterday.

If current form is to be continued, I wonder if the following team should end up in the World Cup semis:

Percival Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Waylon Murray, Wayne Julies, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Bob Skinstad (vice captain), AJ Venter, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Cobus Visagie, John Smit (captain), Deon Carstens. Substitutes: Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies, Danie Roussouw, CJ van der Linde, Bismark du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Of course, I'd have Bakkies running up sand dunes first and tie a rope from Schalk to Matfield. That may be the only way to get him to join a ruck.

My player ratings versus the All Blacks:

Montgomery - 8

Rock solid when kicking at poles, made his tackles, chasing his kicks. Few opportunities on attack.

Willemse - 7

Looked for work, made tackles. Surprisingly good for somebody who has been out so long.

Fourie - 6

Made a memorable tackle, but received little good ball.

De Villiers - 4

Innocuous on attack.

Pietersen - 6

Not his best. A victim of a bad bounce and wrong footed once, his improved defence was made to look suspect.

James - 6

Solid. His flip passes must give his team mates nightmares. When they work they look great. If they don't they are easy points to the opposition. Defended well. Flat footed when receiving ball on attack.

Pienaar - 6

Had a difficult time behind a struggling scrum and ruck. Forced into box kicks on occasion. Had a role to play in Steyn's nightmare - should have taken the pressure himself and gone for the box kick then.

Skinstad - 6

Wasn't allowed to play due to poor scrum ball and absence of support at rucks. Worked hard.

Roussouw - 6

Worked hard but a little slow in support play. Didn't really see evidence of a pattern to match the potential power play of Os, Bakkies, Matfield and Daniesaurus together.

Burger - 9

Colossal. Workrate was incredible. Made tackle after tackle, hit tuck after ruck. Could have been man of the match on the losing side.

Bakkies Botha - 6

Made another huge start to the match but faded later. Does not look fully fit.

Matfield - 5

Awesome in the line outs but virtually anonymous beyond that. I challenge even Prozone to find him in the last 30 minutes. Did not impose himself on the game as captain.

BJ Botha - 5

Not up to his Super 14 standard. opposition tactics seem to be negating his effectiveness at scrum time.

Gary Botha - 5

Better in the lineouts than against the Aussies, but struggled in the scrums.

Du Randt - 6

Stayed on the park longer than I thought he would and made some trademark tackles in broken play. Could he find form before the world cup?

Wannenberg - 5

Unlucky to have copped it, 30 seconds after coming on, for his team's earlier indiscretions at the breakdown.

Steyn - 3

He needed to make sure of his line kicks and play the percentages when he came on. His dropped pass and confusion with Pienaar on his line were disasters. He's a real talent and will hopefuly get the support he needs after this. Should have gone on the away leg of the tour with a point to prove.

Other subs: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Johann Muller, Michael Claassens, Wynand Olivier - no rating

No real impact on the game.