All Blacks impress, but must do better

OPINION: It wasn't only the Springboks' battered and scratched bodies that were aching when they boarded their flight for Brisbane yesterday.

The South Africans' egos have been forced through a meat grinder after a two-week tour in New Zealand that has proved as frustrating as it was fruitless.

In failing to gather any competition points in their two tests they were exposed in a number of areas. They were beaten up in the physical collisions, their poor discipline was exposed when Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw collected yellow cards and a number of players, No8 Pierre Spies and wing Bryan Habana among them, failed to enhance their reputations.

Adding to their woes, wing Jean de Villiers was yesterday suspended for two weeks because of his spear tackle on Rene Ranger in the first half.

Although Rossouw was unlucky to be sinbinned by Alain Rolland for his gentle foot tap at All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw in the fourth minute, he surely knew, like the other 29 players on the field, even the most minor of transgressions would be punished.

For Boks coach Peter de Villiers this whole experience was a painful reminder of just how quickly the game can evolve and change.

The challenge from the All Blacks ahead of the Wellington test was clear: we are going to run the ball, what can you do to match it?

In reply, the Springboks belligerently announced that their way was the right way. They had beaten the All Blacks in three tests last year with their conservative blueprint of using their brute force up-front to gobble up possession and then kick, kick and kick again down field.

No-one was going to convince them otherwise.

Even after the All Blacks had outscored them by four tries to zip in their 32-12 triumph in Auckland, the Springboks retorted that their tactics had worked well for them in the past, and if executed properly in Wellington, the New Zealanders might be in for a nasty surprise.

Well, we're still waiting.

Under the new rule interpretations the All Blacks have totalled eight tries to two in both Tri-Nations tests, amassing 63 points to 29, and collected 10 competition points while South Africa will continue to search for their first point against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday night.

Although they failed to match the sublime standards of the Auckland performance in their 31-17 win, the All Blacks still proved they had the mental resolve to back up with another mighty defensive effort, and even in the difficult wet and windy conditions were not prepared to shelve their counter-attacking aspirations.

However, there is still room for improvement before the All Blacks face the Wallabies in Melbourne in a fortnight.

The All Blacks lineout disintegrated in the second half, new wing Rene Ranger needs to look for his support runners more often and skipper Richie McCaw was fortunate not to be yellow carded when slowing the ball down in the second half.

He, and Henry, will be aware they cannot afford to ride their luck in Melbourne on July 31.

- © Fairfax NZ News