The Springboks have been forced to admit that they are not good enough at the moment and they need more homework on the application of the breakdown law.
There also appears to be trouble within the team and the leaders within the squad need to take a step up.
Three of the most senior Springboks agree that they need to do more homework and take a big step up for their mtch against the Wallabies.
Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield and Jaque Fourie all agree that a victory at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday is a non-negotiable if they are to harbour any hopes of winning the TriNations this year.
Burger who one of two try-scorers says that the facts were inescapable.
"We weren't good enough. They scored more than 60 points in two Tests and we scarcely got 20."
"That is how much better they were." he told Sport24.
Burger added that he believes the yellow cards for Bakkies Botha and Danie Rossouw contributed to downfall.
"We wanted to start well in both games, but after those yellow cards and the effect, we had to play catch-up rugby."
"We wanted to limit the All Blacks' space, but you can't do that effectively at this level with 14 players."
Matfield was particularly angry with the way that he felt All Black captain Richie McCaw got away with breaking the rules.
"It looks as if McCaw and Dan Carter are God's gift to rugby because you're not allowed to touch them. And McCaw gets away with murder," said Matfield.
"We can and want to play positive rugby with the new laws. The Bulls and Stormers showed that.
The Springboks have struggled under the new law interpretations and put some of the blame on the Northern Hemisphere referees - although it should be pointed out that the All Blacks have not struggled under the NH referees.
"The Super 14 was handled by Southern Hemisphere referees and that is probably where the difference and the frustration comes from." said Matfield.
"We probably should have, and now will, pay more attention to the analysis of referees. If not, we will get a hiding."
Matfield says that he does not believe there is any problem with the Boks' playing style.
"We want to carry the ball and get momentum, get ball-carriers on the front foot and score tries, but there is a feeling that teams aren't penalised when they deliberately try to prevent us from doing that," he said.
Fourie agrees. "I don't understand how we go into rucks with the ball, but it ends up with them. Something is clearly not right," he said.
"We're not defending well enough. There are too many instances where guys don't work hard enough to get back in a position where they can make positive tackles. "
"Our leaders have to put up their hands and start playing. It's time for us to look each other in the eye."
A victory on Saturday is crucial, they believe.
"We have no choice. We have to win with a bonus point on Saturday," said Fourie.
.jpg)
