Brendan Venter

While local rugby supporters should feel genuine pride after the Springboks went toe-to-toe with the All Blacks away from home, the reality is that, in order to be the best, you have to beat the best.

The chasm between the top two sides in world rugby appears to be narrowing. However, if Heyneke Meyer’s men are to scale the summit, I believe their work ethic off the ball must improve markedly.

While I’m not questioning the players’ character and commitment, I would challenge each of them to analyse the game objectively and ask themselves: Did I chase the kicks hard enough, did I defend with sufficient integrity when the All Blacks played the ball wide and was my discipline sound?

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In reference to Saturday’s test match in Wellington, the Springboks’ kick-chase, for instance, left a lot to be desired. When the ball was kicked into the air, I observed many of our players walking to get into position, which from a coaching perspective is almost as disappointing as the loss itself.

The fact of the matter is that the margin between success and failure is so slender at international level that every last sinew and muscle fibre has to be stretched to its limit.

At this point, it’s important to note that there are two types of errors: skill errors and effort errors. While I can excuse the former, as a professional coach I find the latter mistake unacceptable.

To offer an example, the Morne Steyn penalty, which failed to find touch against Australia, was a skill error, whereas, Beast Mtawarira failing to roll away at ruck time against New Zealand in the 66th minute of the match constituted an effort error.

Although Steyn’s botched touchline attempt invoked the ire of the South African rugby public, for someone with a coaching cap on, Mtawarira’s blatant indiscretion was far more infuriating.

Prior to the award of the penalty, the Springboks trailed 10-11. However, the successful attempt, courtesy of Beauden Barrett’s boot, afforded the All Blacks a crucial four-point cushion.

The four-point buffer proved pivotal as the match drew towards it climax. It afforded the All Blacks licence to concede penalties, sound in the knowledge that the Springboks would not be able to kick a goal to win the game.

As such, this allowed the All Blacks to adapt their tactics and take more risks as the clock ticked towards 80 minutes.

In the closing moments of the match, the home side were cognisant of the fact that, if Victor Matfield won the ball, the visitors would almost certainly score the match-winning try from a driven lineout.

Therefore, the All Blacks were quite liberal in playing Matfield in the air and coming in from the side.

Furthermore, the perception was that Bismarck du Plessis threw poorly into the lineout when he entered the fray in the 54th minute.

While Du Plessis did throw too early on the four-man in the 64th minute, which was a skill error, his final lineout feed was accurate. However, the All Blacks displayed their street-smart in this instance.

Matfield was clearly under the impression that it would prove an uncontested lineout, because it appeared that Keven Mealamu would support the front jumper. However, just as Du Plessis was about to throw in, Mealamu turned and supported Kieran Read, which made the ball contestable.

The All Blacks remain the canniest team in world rugby as their attention to detail is second to none.

While I believe the Springboks have reached the metaphorical tipping point, in order to successfully navigate the threshold they will need to learn to manage every single variable within the oval game.