Yes, the Springboks were not good enough, and yes, they did take a mauling, but are the prophecies of doom and gloom for next year’s world cup a little bit premature?

After three consecutive heavy defeats to New Zealand (twice) and Australia, many pundits are jumping on an all too familiar bandwagon that seems to roll out whenever any South African sports team hits a dip in form.

Many are calling for drastic changes in both coaching and playing personal, with head coach Peter De Villiers receiving most of the flak. Springbok team manager Andy Marinos even had to come out publicly and quell any speculation of unrest and infighting within the camp. When it rains, it often seems to pour and then some in South African sport.

However, the Springboks did not lose to Mickey Mouse teams. New Zealand is without a doubt South Africa’s biggest rival and will always remain a power house in world rugby. It should never be an embarrassment losing to the All Blacks. Australia is the only other side in the world (along with the Springboks) to have won the world cup twice, and with their enterprising style of play can beat any team on their day. Coupled with one of the best coaches in the game in the form of Rob Deans, they are a more than formidable outfit.

On top of the quality of the two sides, all three losses were on foreign soil. If the Super XIV is anything to go by, an away against one of the top teams is something that is very difficult to achieve. The Boks have managed to win away from home against their main rivals in the last few years but that does not mean that we should just expect an away win. Perhaps it is because of the amazing highs of the last few years that there is even such an outcry from the public and media. Perhaps if we could turn the clock back to the early part of the last decade then the attention that the Springboks are receiving at the moment would be a little more subdued.
Further more, the Wallabies and All Blacks still have to make the trip across the Indian Ocean. It would by no means be the upset of the century if South Africa goes on to trounce the Wallabies twice and New Zealand at Soccer City.

The point is that the top sides really should win their home games. The New Zealand press sang a similar tune last year when their side lost at home. Are we not being a little too hasty with our criticisms? The tournament is only at its halfway stage and our press and public are already talking about drastic measures.

Now I am not denying that some changes need to be implemented. Discipline is an area that must be improved on. Whether or not the refereeing has been favourable is irrelevant. Australia scored as many tries as South Africa, but the visitor’s poor discipline cost them with too many penalties, and the two yellow cards early on in both games against New Zealand left South Africa with too high a mountain to climb.

South Africa’s kicking game plan and execution of the plan needs to improve. The kicking game has suffered without Fourie du Preez and has left Morne Steyn with too much to do. The fly half has not been as effective as he was in the Super XIV and Ruan Pienaar and Ricky Januarie have done little to help. de Villiers therefore needs to rethink his side’s strategy. Australia and New Zealand have adapted to the new interpretations of the law far better than the Springboks have by keeping the ball in hand. We seem to kick the ball away too quickly and Zane Kirschner in particular needs to kick a lot less, as well as take a leaf out of his two opposing number 15s. Mills Muli’aina and Adam Ashley Cooper had great games against the Boks by with counter attacking running that brought their wings into play. If the Boks could counter better, perhaps Habana and co. could contribute more than just a cleaning up job.

This break is coming at just the right time for the coach and his players who now have the opportunity to look back and assess where they made mistakes and where they can improve on. Perhaps all the critics should wait until after the tri-nations before they pass judgement. The Springboks are still the reigning champions of the Southern hemisphere and the world. Come world cup time next year some players will have more experience under their belt, and some will be back from injury or suspension.

So perhaps we should all wait before we write off the Boks and their, um, eccentric coach. If I remember correctly, just before the last world cup, some were calling for Jake White’s head!