John Smit says the Springboks were “properly beaten” by the All Blacks in Auckland, but raised a concern over how often the visitors ended up on the wrong side of the referee’s whistle.

The Boks conceded 17 points in the first 15 minutes of the Rugby Championship Test between the old rivals at Mount Smart Stadium and although the visitors edged the scoreboard in the second half (17-15), they had left too much to do and lost 35-20.

Reacting to the result, former Bok captain Smit said on Twitter that the South Africans showed good fight, but added that he was concerned over how often the visitors were penalised or didn’t get the reward of Raynal’s whistle.

Not only did the Boks have a Cheslin Kolbe try controversially disallowed in the first half, they also struggled to adapt to Raynal’s breakdown interpretation.

“Properly beaten today, but pretty happy with the fight back,” tweeted Smit. “I know refs don’t dig us, but we got no 50-50’s today which is worrying.

“The phantom play not rolling away when Kwagga [Smith] stole the ball, the scrum pens. Boks are gonna have to be in perfect form every weekend to overcome this.”

Properly beaten today but pretty happy with the fight back,I know refs don’t dig us but we got no 50/50’s today which is worrying,the phantom player not rolling away when Kwagga stole the ball,the scrum pens.Boks are gonna have to be in perfect form every weekend to overcome this

— John Smit (@JohnSmit123) July 15, 2023