80 minutes of sharing between Boks and Australia
There was no lack of effort and commitment from the Springboks but for a third match in a row they weren't good enough to win.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies contributed 12 points but missed the angled penalty a minute from time that would have given the Boks a win. It would have been cruel on Australia because they contributed to a wonderful spectacle.
But it was two cruiserweights, out of the league of the heavyweight All Blacks, and the Boks need to improve massively before they face the old foe at Newlands next week. And it's unlikely they can do much more.
Coach Allister Coetzee's changes - No9 Ross Cronje, wing Dillyn Leyds and flank Francois Louw - worked in as much as they were better than Francois Hougaard, Raymond Rhule and Jean-Luc du Preez in Albany, but they didn't take the team to ethereal heights.
There is simply no one better to come in to lift the Boks and all they can now hope for is to not be humiliated...
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