SA rugby: Springboks still far from their World Cup form

In a recent discussion, Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber highlighted just how behind the Springboks are in their preparation.

Nienaber made it clear that when compared to the level they were at in 2019 at the World Cup final – in terms of physicality, conditioning and form – the current Springbok team were “nowhere near that level” but were slowly working their way back to the top.

“Ahead of the World Cup it took us 26 weeks to get to that level,” Nienaber said.

“We are nowhere near it now, but the good thing is that the continuity is clicking in and it will take us less time to get there. I reckon if all goes well we will be there by the end of the year – in 13 weeks together.”

After the shock of the Boks loss to the Wallabies on Saturday and the emotional outcry over the result, the important thing to note is that the Bok management won’t be pushing the panic buttons just yet.

Yes, it was a bad day at the office. Yes a number of players were below par, but it would be foolish to underestimate how much the quarantine and travel factors contributed in keeping the Boks off their game.

Argentina’s performance against the All Blacks also seemed to underline that fact as well. But the problem now is that while it may have contributed to the poor performance, it was something the Boks should and would have taken into account and mentioning it now would only be seen as an excuse.

The Boks are the world champions. But as in so many games in Australia over the last two decades, they have walked off the field having done enough to win, having been the better side but ended up on the wrong side of the result.

Boks were their own worst enemies, as they have been so many times in the past. And as in so many tests in the past, the Wallabies got away with murder. Both in the scrum and off the ball as they disrupted the Boks through tactics that were nowhere near legal.

We can bemoan the assistant referees not picking it up, but the reality is this Bok team are the world champions, and as a champion team they will be irritated with themselves at being disrupted so easily.

As a team they would have been frustrated with the referee, but their reaction in countering the tactics was the disappointment. Referees, especially in foreign countries, tend to favour the home side and 50-50 calls go against you.

There were too many waving arms and shaking heads in the game. On many occasions, the Boks got caught up in the sideshows instead of focusing on the task at hand.

Eventually in the second half they took control, but their own discipline let them down time and again and made the scoreboard an easy target for Quade Cooper’s boot.

Nienaber may be right about this team not being where they need to be. There are so many reasons for this.

But they are the World Champions and they set their own standards that high. Losing to the Wallabies by a late penalty is not a train smash, but it is frustrating.

The Boks are missing that ruthless element the All Blacks always seem to have. They fell back into old habits during the Brisbane game. And they were beaten the same way Springbok teams have been beaten in the past by the Wallabies.

The setback will play heavily on this side but they have stood up before. In the Lions series and the World Cup they overcame setbacks and returned stronger.

The difference between this side and Springbok sides of the past is that they are hard on themselves and take it a lot more personally.

That point will be drilled home this week. That disappointment in their own standards will weigh heavily on them.

Nienaber is right. This side is nowhere near the ruthlessness they displayed during the 2019 World Cup.

But they’re slowly getting there. This coming Saturday will reveal whether this past weekend was a stumble or a fall.

But one thing is for sure. The same team that got them to the top will be hard at work rectifying the mistakes that have happened.

And this Bok team will be hard at work to make sure their off day doesn’t happen again.

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