So here we are….

….we fail against Ireland at home. And the team and our tactics are in disarray. Not surprising really. We have pursued a very narrow approach, not evolved the team gradually and made too much of a very lucky WC win.

How now brown cow?

To me there was no evidence of any ball in hand progress in Durban and precious little in Pretoria. But I’m sure we will be running like gazelles against Portugal.

Ireland is a very good team...and they were super motivated...we're in a good place...we will improve. 

Disagree, this was a series we very much wanted to win….we are in a less good place than we were 3 weeks ago. We are dealing with an aging team and the need to change tactics….this will require Eluckmiss to step out of his comfort zone, and even then, may not work.

If you want to see how tentative the Boks were in attack, watch this play at 15:46. Boks get good phase ball, we've got 5 backs and Kolisi against 3 Irish tight forwards, a flanker and a wing. It's ripe for the backs to exploit.

But no one is taking it to the line. Kolisi is the decoy, but we're so deep that his decoy run is of no consequence as Pollard passes to DDA long before any Irish will even give it a second look. They just shift.

The Best Passer in the team does nothing to improve matters and just immediately throws a shoulder-high pass that Kriel has to stop to catch, and suddenly we've turned a promising situation where a hard run at a line of tight forwards behind a proper decoy runner could have created some danger ... to where Kriel is facing three Irish defenders.

We will never implement an effective running game with Dud at 12….he never, ever puts any pace into the movement and his passing  reflects his lack of vision.

We lost by one point to the team who beat the Allblacks in NZ two years ago...after fighting back from a 10 point deficit...it was brutal...how many injury replacements?...players leaving the field for treatment...?

Rome wasn't built in one day.

But when we won by 1 point over a 14 man team that was all up to Rassie’s genius? The fact is we are pretty much dead even with the top teams. Three times we were lucky….once we were unlucky. 

It’s easy to admit, just be honest.

Ja Draad, we were competitive despite everything. Fixing some of the dumb stuff earlier could have seen us through, like the incessant box kicks even though we couldn't win any ball in the air. The question of course is why didn't we? The RC will show us where we are.

I would argue we have just had a 3 match series with Ireland. One played at the WC, two  played on our home turf. We lost 2 to 1 despite home advantage. I would say that puts us behind Ireland.

Ok so let me get this straight we lose to Ireland, the best Irish side in their history in the dying minutes and suddenly our team and attack is in disarray

Agree Saffex, ridiculous to claim the Bok's are in disarray. Seems people on here would not be happy unless the Bok's play this mythical flawless game and win every game by 20-30 points. It's also kinda of insulting to the opposition as well.

I read somewhere that the Irish were missing 5 of their top players.

"......also kinda of insulting to the opposition as well.

Agreed. Ireland physically dismantled the Boks in the first half.......left them clueless.

Dave is talking nonsense the only hooker who scored a try for the Boks at the WC was Deon Fourie against Tonga and Romania. But of course Bongi who couldn’t rustle up a try against Romania was the only reason we never scored one against NZ.

‘ What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive’….Marmion by Sir Walter Scott.

12 Jordie Barrett: The All Blacks‘ vice-captain took some time to get going but once he did he showed how important he is to his team with a fine all-round performance. Impressed on attack as he made 50 metres and also shone on defence where he made a joint team-high 13 tackles. 8

The security of Bongi at lineout time….of course, you must be referring to the 4  lineouts we lost on our own throw against England when Bongi played the whole game. Hahaha Dave your whole argument is a tissue of lies….our luck ran out on Saturday.

Because of the incredibly favorable schedule, we do have a good shot at this RC. But as our team ages we have a very difficult transition. Coetzee’s team has been playing together for a long time now. That understanding is worth a lot…damn tricky to blend in new players when you have waited this long.

I guess if I buy your argument, that means if the ABs had 15 men on the field and Bongi was subbed by Fourie we would have been crushed, because the loss of Bongi destroyed everything.

Hoist by your own petard Dave.