Ab's coach Henry is not the problem. he has made some selection blunders, i.e. McAlister for Mauger in the 2007 World cup semi's, but overall he is a good coach. From my, SA perspective, the AB players are not good at the moment. Their decisionmaking in the 2 tests against the Boks were very poor. The coach has no influence over that. All sides go through the stage that you are going through. Accept it. The All Blacks have and always will be one of the two best sides - with the Boks - in the world. Also give the Boks some credit. It took 20 odd years from isolation to restore their status in the rugby world. I can't wait to see the greatest rivalry in rugby - AB's vs Boks to be played out in the way it has always been - tough, uncompromising, nailbiting and controversial. Just ask your older supporters how tough it has always been - and it will be so from this day forward. We felt the same way as you for the last 15 odd years - being thrashed by the All Blacks does not go well with the SA psyche. But the balance has been restored - the Boks player pool is back to where it was before isolation.Both the AB's and the Boks will go through lean times in the future, and we will all hate it when it comes - but at least the greatest rivalry has been restored. Used to hate to hear how important the Bledisloe Cup and matches against England was the ultimate for the AB's. That will change back to how it is supposed to be. Remember that rugby is the no 1 sport in only 2 countries in world rugby - NZ and SA. Having said all of this - your coach is good, but your players need some brain power at the moment. recalling Carter will change your teams's whole outlook and results.You have been spoiled with playing against understrength Bok sides and the Wallabies and the rest of the Wannabies from the Northern Hemisphere.The Boks are back. Looking forward to a lot of nail biting and edge of the seat stuff when we play each other in the future. Long live the Rivalry!

comment #18 ... you probably didn't deserve to be a fan in the 1st place..

As a South African I cringed when our coach PdV started to talk it showed the Springboks to be a one man comedy show...... how much more embarresing to have a 22 man National comedy team..... They spend more time doing dress rehersals for the Haka than rugby..... the original Haka as I remember in the early 70's was far more intimidating than the show they put on now.

John Smit said it during the week, "You have to earn the right to go wide"

The ABs did not, you earn it by hanging onto the ball, gaining territory and winning your rucks. As a few posters said above, this obsession with expansive play keeps costing the ABs.

Last year, the ELVs masked the state of NZ rugby, as the ELVS played into the hands of the ABs and the Aussies and was a detriment to the SAfricans. Now that we have reverted back to real rugby, we are seeing the true standings of the teams.

Firesale. Drop everyone who have consistently been bad. That includes: Andrew Hore (lineouts), Rodney So'oialo, Piri Weepu (get the ball out for cripes sakes!!), Rocococo, Sivivatu (fumblitis - both of them). We need to introduce ball control and field position tactics.

Bring back people who have proven themselves at NPC and Super levels - who deserve selection. Adam Thompson and Masaga.

My lineup would be:

1. Woodcock 2. Mealamu 3. Franks 4. Thorn 5. Ross 6. Kaino 7. McCaw 8. Kieran Read 9. Cowan 10. Donald 11. Masaga 12. McAllister 13. Smith 14. Cory Jane 15. Muliaina

Bench: Afoa, De Melmanche, Eaton, Thompson, Messam, Leonard, Nonu, Hosea Gear.

WORK ON BASIC SKILLS - catching and passing, taking high balls, tackling. Discipline needs sharpening. AND start grooming Aaron Kruden (don't give him a jersey, just start bringing him along).

This team might look weaker on paper, but they are chosen on merit and accomplishments, and will make the so-called 'incumbents' actually earn their spot.

As it has been in the last 2 World Cups, the ABs are paying the price for an obsession with expansive play. Test rugby requires dominance in the fundamentals of ball control and field position to put the attack on the front foot. SA tried expansion in their play last year but reverted to tradition with great success this season.

Like open play, the ABs lineout is too dependent on flair and movement to succeed. It may be hopeless to overcome Matfield's greatness on their ball. Controlled traditional play calling without confusing movement in the line could well be the best answer for success on their own ball.

Expansive play yields tries, but not with every multiple phase possession. Coiling with the attitude of a snake ready to strike when the best opportunities present themselves is far more effective than forcing the play with 50-50 passes.

Above all, no human alive can out run a well kicked ball. The game is rugby football, not rugby runball. Like it or not, boring or not, an effective well covered deep kick is the most important play in the game.

As an SA supporter I am obviously over the moon with the win, however as a rugby lover I am dissapointed with the AB's style of play. They didn't even try set up play in the Boks half before letting it go down the backline. At one stage they just ran it from everywhere and with the Boks defending like demons it made them look ordinary. Credit must go to the Boks for the pressure they put on with their "in your face" style of play which went a long way to making the AB's seem ordinary.

While we all agree this is a great Springbok side, the AB's have a problem. The signs were there in their first three tests of the year and (other than the Aussie game) have looked ordinary in every game so far. The clynical correctness in the general play (a hallmark of the NZ game) is just not there anymore and I have NEVER seen that many errors from an AB side. It was unbelievable and the lack of fronting up physically to the Boks was ultimately their downfall over the last two weeks.

While the respect will always be there between our two rugby loving nations, it is not disrespectful for an SA supporter to say this is the worst AB side since our re-admission to rugby in 92. If they can turn it around I will retract that statement, but there has been talk of a turnaround since the loss to France and it is just not happening 5 tests later. Inevitably (and correctly so) eyes must now turn to the coaching team. Come on NZ ... get rid of them and get the brand back on track. As ever ... can't wait to see these sides clash again in a month or so. Lets hope things have turned around by then and a cracking contest is on the cards.

Alright so I'm a Bok supporter so maybe this doesn't count for much. But, as a supporter, I've always enjoyed Springbok/AB clashes the most for the simple reason that you're always gauranteed something entertaining and/or special.

But what is up with this All Black side? I agree that the basics seem to be out of the window. Sivivatu and Rokocoko both had a serious shocker of a game on Saturday and for the first time ever Richie McCaw looked out of his element. I never thought I would say that seeing as I've always rated him as the best in his position. It doesn't help to point individuals I guess but this team seems to lack confidence and it shows. It seems (and bear in mind that i'm a mere supporter) that they're uncertain when it comes to making decisions and executing them. That in turn leads to panic and then heads get lost to ill discipline. Case in point Isaac Ross's yellow card.

The other issue seems to be that there is no Plan B. The new game plan that the ABs are trying to play didn't seem to work as it was swarmed by Bok defence. Surely when something is clearly not working there should be a Plan B?

This is a fairly young AB side so maybe they should go back to basics and learn how to walk before insisting on trying to fly. That's part of what makes the ABs special. When the execution of their basics is excellent they're lethal.

I certainly hope that they can rally before the next Bledisloe clash. Good luck ABs!

HB - Weepu 1st - Carter 2nd - McAllister Centre - Smith Wing - Sivi Wing - Gear/Masaga/Nonu (Doesn't matter) FB - Jane (Janes responsible for the high ball)

Toeava covers 2nd to FB Cowan covers HB

Mils/Donald/Nonu/Rok back to NPC to find form and to motivate them to improve key skills. Allows room for extra forward on bench. Interesting to see how Laumanu comes along in next three weeks.

@Henry Huggers-Mourinho lost his job after only losing 18 games out of 185 games for Chelsea(plus unbeaten at home).They won their first premiership for 50 years and won two premierships under him.He lost his job, why? Because you are judged by CURRENT FORM, Chelsea didn't win the main trophy(the Champions Trophy alal 2007 World Rugby Cup!!!)and the team started to lose and draw, so off he went!!! So off Henry must go because the players that are high class are not responding and as for the other players who were never good enough well that is was his downfall!! A seriuosly bad judge of players potential eg.Tialata, Donald & Toeava and also horrendous for playing guys out of their specialist positions!!!! Full Stop on the bottom line is the players need change, Henry won't make it to the end of year tour, through CURRENT FORM not last years!!!!When his "inherited 2003 team" started to age he was always in trouble!!!!!