While we are playing CC rugby....

....NZ and Oz are honing their skills at a higher level. That and Erasmus’ disgraceful chicken run in the RC last year will cost us. Hopefully the overseas Boks will be an offset, but it may be till next year before our players are involved in normal competition. That has to have an effect on skills, match fitness and team cohesion.

Our game was never about skills. Territory and blunt physicality. How assured are we of physical dominance.