19-0 is a hiding in anyone’s language. 19-0 at home is a friggin embarrassment. Let me be clear, this was a game we could have and should have won. Not taking anything away from the crafty All Blacks, we were our own worst enemies out there. And again a lot of questions have to be asked and answered.

The Boks missed the goal line by mere inches four or five times over. So close, yet the friggin try line was always an inch too far. At times the Boks looked dangerous on attack and it seemed New Zealand looked a little vulnerable when the flash running rugby was implemented. The All Blacks just had to make their tackles which they did. Try scoring opportunities went a begging by foots in touch, poor passing and of course missing that goal line by those agonising inches.

Ok. New Zealand also had their near misses. Carter dropped twelve points with the boot you would otherwise expect him to get, and later in the match had there been a speedster instead of a front rower on the final pass of a sweeping move in the 60th or so minute, the All Blacks would have scored.

So what went wrong? Were the Boks really that bad? At one stage, the Springboks employed a lot of attacking rugby but just could not finish. However, some promising flowing moves broke down when big front rowers were in the position were wings and midfielders should be.

In one or two instances, a fast free flowing move tailor made for the backs and speedsters ended up with Beast harbouring ambitions of being the next Bryan Habana. You know, its thrilling stuff to see your big front rowers hoofing down the touchline and we all love it. But you got to ask, when ball emerges from the forward exchanges and sails at pace down the backline, what are big front rowers doing out there.

Against Australia, Beast made a lovely wing break with a storming barge from his own 22. Its pretty and exciting to watch. But there is no way he is going to score from 75 meters. Why do these guys hang out there…and secondly, why are they not in the forward exchanges contesting where they belong. CJ van der Linde was another who shafted a very promising backline move.

And then again, how many times were the Boks trying to run from deep in their own half when tactical nous and a ball to the safety of the touchline would have been the better option. The guys only put themselves under pressure.

So many opportunities to score went a begging and had any one or two of them come off, it could have changed the complexity of the entire game and put pressure on the All Blacks.

So what we do? That team is not far from the best we can field. What do we change? What game plan do we employ? The first question we should ask is who is the next best flyhalf in South Africa. Butch James has had ample opportunity to state his case for the Springboks, but we can not afford to labour with his continued very average showing. With Peter Grant injured, what alternative options do we have at number 10. Francois Steyn? Ruan Pienaar?… Willem de Waal, Earl Rose? Where do we go for a flyhalf? A change in this position is crucial.

Just a word on the final try scored by Mealuma. Some might blast Francois Steyn for a quick and very risky throw in so close to their own goal line in the final stages. I don’t. At that point, the game although slipping away from the Boks was still salvageable and risk was required with the clock ticking down. Two quick tries were needed and caution had to be abandoned. It ended up costing us a defining score. However, very early in the match Bryan Habana threw a quick throw in. Now that was not the time to engage in such high risk stuff. That little flash hap rugby led to Conrad Smith’s first try

Can any of you guys see that Jake White’s successful team is slowly starting to fall apart bit by bit, week by week. Snor, bless his heart, is sometimes very perplexing and difficult to understand. His substitution calls throughout the tri nations have been puzzling, and again bringing on Luke Watson in place of Shalk Burger was a no brainer. Again, when the Boks were trailing by five points and goal kicking may end up being crucial, Jantjies substitution for an injured Habana at the time may have been better served by bringing on Steyn instead. A vital goal kicking option…particularly long distance.

I am not going to start slagging the coach, but I have to question his ability to write a better script for the Boks. I dare to question, does he command his troops to the battlefield with respect and determination that Jake White did? Does he create and motivate self belief amongst the players the way Jake White did? Does he pay attention to detail, can he lift his players to perform to their strengths? He is not going to be able to survive too long on his historical achievement in Dunedin if he keeps on losing…and losing the way he has done today. Dunedin has kept the heat off him. With two more matches to go for the Springboks, defeat in either is going to make Dunedin a distant memory.

Ok, changes for Australia next week. A new flyhalf please. Maybe Joe van Niekerk in for Pierre Spies otherwise pretty much the same team and squad. Some might call for a return of BJ Botha. I wouldn't complain about that. But more importantly, we need to go into the match playing a tighter game, put this expansive approach on hold, and play for territory. If we are leading the Ozzie’s by a commanding margin, then try the breakout rugby.

To the All Blacks, congrats on a superb win. Richie Mc Caw was outstanding as he always is. How much Bok ball did he steal off our guys? He was unbelievable. His value to the All Blacks is unquestionable. Compare the All Blacks without him and compare them since his return. As a captain, his players would follow him into hell if he led them there. As a player, a very special talent. New Zealand are very fortunate for his unique talents and they are very appreciate of him.

Now for Australia. Lets rethinking strategy.