Comment
The Springboks’ loss against New Zealand in the first Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry may not be such a bad thing.
After an unbeaten run of 12 matches, it came to an abrupt and convincing end against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday evening, as the world champions went down 33-16 in the opening match of the series.
It was a sobering defeat, but perhaps one the Boks needed.
The loss puts them in a must-win position in the remaining clashes if they are to seal the series against their arch-rivals. More importantly, though, it has reminded them that they are not unbeatable and that, without some of their key players, they can falter.
For all their dominance over the past year, the Boks have perhaps been guilty of becoming too comfortable with winning. They have built an incredible level of confidence and belief, but Saturday’s defeat should shake them awake and remind them that no team can afford to take its success for granted.
Siya Kolisi’s inspirational captaincy was missed against the Kiwis, without a doubt. His ability to lift the team when things are going against them is difficult to replace.
The injuries to Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse also stripped the Boks of two of their most dangerous attacking weapons out wide. Their hot-stepping ability and knack for turning half-chances into something special were sorely missed.
And when the halfback pairing is out of sync, things can go horribly wrong for the South Africans.
That was perhaps the biggest concern from the defeat. The Boks looked disjointed at times, struggled to build pressure and were unable to find the consistency that has become such a defining feature of their game.
However, their depth and quality should allow them to replace injured players going forward. That is one of the biggest strengths Rassie Erasmus has built into this squad.
But depth cannot hide everything.
Saturday’s defeat showed that the Boks still have plenty of work to do if they want to become the complete product they believe they can be. The All Blacks exposed weaknesses, punished mistakes and showed that the gap between the two sides can close very quickly when the Boks are not at their best.
That should hurt. But it should also motivate them.
The Boks have been here before. They know how to respond to adversity. Now, they need to show that Saturday was not the beginning of a slide, but the wake-up call that sparks a response.
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