Springboks face defining response against All Blacks in Cape Town

South Africa must respond immediately after being outplayed by New Zealand in the first Test, says former Springbok Bob Skinstad, with the remaining matches of the four-Test series presenting an opportunity to restore confidence and standards.

The Springboks appeared disconnected and lacked their usual intensity in the opening match. From outside the field, it took a long time for Andre Esterhuizen to provide the necessary force, powering over the line and offering South Africa supporters a rare moment of encouragement.

The central issue, however, is whether South Africa were beaten by their own shortcomings or by an All Blacks side that was resilient, inventive and difficult to break down. For Skinstad, that is the more significant question.

In the physical exchanges at the tackle, ruck and maul, New Zealand had the advantage. Skinstad felt those areas were not managed as he would have expected, but said South Africa had enough quality to perform better. The All Blacks made far more of the contest and used it to gain a substantial edge.

South Africa’s forwards remain well prepared and in excellent physical condition, but New Zealand outthought and outperformed them in a part of the game where they knew they had to match the Springboks, or improve on them, to have a realistic chance of victory.

They achieved more than that. Although the final scoreline may have flattered New Zealand, it was still one South Africa will not want to remember. In previous close matches, the Springboks have shown an ability to alter their response when circumstances change. This time, they were unable to do so.

That allowed the All Blacks to seize control, while South Africa struggled to turn the limited opportunities that came their way into sustained pressure or points.

“I am a staunch South Africa supporter, and I don’t apologise for it,” Skinstad wrote, but added that he had watched control move away from the Springboks and into the hands of an alert New Zealand team. He acknowledged the referee may have played a part, but said that should not become South Africa’s principal explanation.

He also believes several Springboks were attempting to rediscover their best form instead of producing the level they had shown in the past. That presents a significant challenge before the next Test.

When asked whether the defeat represented a catastrophe, Rassie Erasmus pointed out that South Africa had experienced catastrophe in a number of situations in the recent past. Skinstad agreed with the head coach’s assessment.

The response must now involve rebuilding confidence, resetting standards and renewing the challenge presented by the All Blacks. With the rest of the series still to come, South Africa have reached the point where they must deliver rather than merely discuss what went wrong.

Cape Town, however, has not traditionally been a particularly comfortable venue for the Springboks. New Zealand have a better-than-par record there, while the accuracy of several All Blacks fly-halves has helped them secure victories in difficult weather conditions.

The key question for the weekend is whether South Africa can reproduce the same powerful forward approach seen in Johannesburg. Skinstad expects the physical battle to be just as demanding, but the Springboks must counter it instead of allowing New Zealand to dominate the match from roughly the 20-minute mark, as they did in the first Test.

Lions show their character against New Zealand

The Lions also pushed the All Blacks close at Ellis Park on Tuesday evening in a match that demonstrated the domestic side’s physical strength and determination.

Chris Smith was outstanding with the boot and in his management of the midfield. The Lions also benefited from occasional intercept passes and matched New Zealand’s physicality in the forwards.

The teams were level at three tries apiece at half-time. Richie Mo’unga scored after the break and New Zealand added a try in the final minute, denying the Lions what might otherwise have been a domestic victory.

The performance was a reminder of the excitement created by major tours and represented an impressive display from a Lions team that had been below par recently. They can take considerable pride from competing so closely with one of the world’s leading rugby sides.

All Blacks supporters have also taken the opportunity to experience South Africa beyond the rugby, posting on social media about safari trips and time in the African bush. Their visits have showcased the country’s outdoor attractions, food and the welcome offered by South African rugby supporters.

Skinstad said the relationship between travelling fans and host communities, as well as the shared history between the two rugby nations, was important and worth preserving.

The build-up to the next Test has left him eagerly anticipating a contest that could have a major bearing on how the series concludes.

Bob Skinstad follows the Springboks closely and writes about rugby on LinkedIn.