At times, statistics only tell a half-truth. When it comes to the last three encounters between the All Blacks and Springboks, they paint the picture of the gulf in class between the two teams.
In the defeats Steve Hansen's side have inflicted on the Springboks in Christchurch (41-13), Durban (57-15) and Albany (57-0), New Zealand have compiled 155 points with 23 tries scored in the process.
The Boks have only scored 28 points and a try at the same time. Whatever Allister Coetzee achieves in his Bok coaching career, his three consecutive pummellings against the All Blacks will forever taint his tenure.
It's a pity Coetzee seems to always run into the All Blacks when they have a point to prove, especially in the lead up to yesterday's horror show where despite losing only one match, the hosts were under considerable pressure to make an example out of the Boks. It simply was a case of the Springboks being in the wrong place at the wrong time against a side with everything to gain and lose.
The biggest culprits were ...
While the All Blacks found the extra gear from an accuracy and execution perspective, their visitors were also culpable in their unexpectedly undesirable demise.
If 19 tackles are missed in one half with no improvement in the second half with 14 more, it's a criminal personnel error.
At this level, tackling has to be intrinsic and not be coached. The biggest culprits were the backs with Raymond Rhule missing the most (nine) while Jan Serfontein, Jesse Kriel, Andries Coetzee, Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies all missed two each. This contributed to the catastrophic system meltdown and Rhule's flank was ruthlessly exploited.Alongside scrumhalf Hougaard's diabolical showing in Ross Cronje's absence, it's going to be difficult for the coach to justify Hougaard's and Rhule's selection for the Australia test on September 30.
It's only now that third-choice No9 Rudy Paige's and Cronje's adherence to passing basics must be appreciated as Hougaard isn't a test-class nine if he can't pass properly.
The forwards themselves were missing in action in the second half as the backtracking eight allowed Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara to prosper. Siya Kolisi, Jean-Luc du Preez and Uzair Cassiem were constricted and allowed the All Black halfbacks to prosper.
Pieter-Steph du Toit again proved he's not a test-class loose forward and is better used at lock while Malcolm Marx has to work on his throwing basics before there's talk of him being a world-class hooker...