Chocolate Boks!

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers needs to rethink about those he has put faith in over the past few seasons if the Boks are serious about retaining the Rugby World Cup.

In Saturday's humiliating 39-20 defeat by the Wallabies in Sydney, several players did enough to play themselves out of World Cup contention as the Boks slumped to their sixth Tri-Nations defeat in their last seven matches.

Losing was no surprise, but the nature of the defeat was worrying.

Australia led 39-6 and took their foot off the pedal with 25 minutes to go. In that time, the Boks scored two consolation tries to add a little respectability to the final score.

Deon Stegmann is no test-quality openside flank. He was anonymous as the Boks were beaten at the breakdown, with the Wallabies turning them over at will.

Captain John Smit tweeted: "Disappointed in the result last night but that's what happens when you turn ball over against ozzies. Hard work ahead."

And hard decisions about players, including the skipper, need to be made. Chiliboy Ralepelle looked far more effective when he came on in the final quarter, although by then Australia were asleep.

Wynand Olivier has played test rugby for five years - and never impressed. Saturday was no exception. He was woeful, though the service from scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and flyhalf Morné Steyn was cumbersome.

Tighthead Werner Kruger and No8 Ashley Johnson did not enjoy happy debuts, but deserve another chance as it was their first test.

De Villiers must be wondering what to make of Pienaar's display, which was so inept it would have been laughable had it not been in Springbok colours.

Pienaar was slow and indecisive behind the pack. His cumbersome display had a knock-on effect, but not enough to excuse Olivier and Steyn's roles in the debacle.

Steyn seems to have lost the confidence that made him the world's best flyhalf in 2009.

The dilemma is whether to try and nurse him back to his best, with only 47 days to the World Cup, or jettison him now.

Sharks' flyhalf Pat Lambie may earn a start against New Zealand this weekend, but Butch James looks like the man for the job.

Olivier's chances of making the Boks 30-man squad must surely be over. With Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie regaining fitness at home, and Juan de Jongh as centre cover, there is no need for a fourth centre in the final Cup squad.

If there were, Adi Jacobs would be a better bet. He tests defences with guile rather than moronic runs straight into defenders.

Smit bemoaned poor defence, admitting the Wallabies could have won by more if they had taken their chances. That's worrying. Defence, as any top player will tell you, is about attitude as much as structure.

The Boks lacked both, which raises questions about their happiness as a group, and also about their coaching and training.