OPINION: Springbok inconsistency is proving problematic
The Boks have played five home Tests so far in 2022, and won three and lost two.
Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am and All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett compete for a high ball during the second Test at Ellis Park. Picture: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images
A massively disappointing performance from the Springboks in going down 35-23 to the All Blacks in their Rugby Championship clash at Ellis Park on Saturday made one thing painfully clear.
It made it very clear that this Bok team will never be able to dominate world rugby like some of the All Blacks sides have during the professional era.
Particularly the All Black teams of Steve Hansen and Graham Henry, which over their tenures enjoyed incredible win percentages of 88.79 and 85.4 respectively.
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Under Hansen the All Blacks managed to win 93 of his 107 games, while under Henry they won 88 of his 103, proving how winning became a habit for them over a combined 14 year period.
The current Springbok team is incredibly talented and if you were to match them up against the New Zealand sides over that time, they would be able to challenge them.
They maybe wouldn’t be able to have as much consistent success, but they would be able to do a lot better than they are currently.
Inconsistent 2021
It is tough to judge the Boks on their performances in 2021, because with the Covid pandemic still in full swing it was a difficult time, but they were not the only side hampered by it.
They started their season well, proving their worth by beating the British and Irish Lions 2-1 and then comfortably brushed aside Argentina in two games.
But their tragic inconsistency then reared its ugly head over the rest of the season as they suffered two defeats against Australia and then lost to England in the final game of their end of year tour, all games that they should have won.
The start of this season has been no different, and the Boks should be enjoying a perfect win record of five out of five, having had the benefit of playing all five games so far on home soil.
But they lost the second Test against Wales, the first time they have ever been beaten by them in SA, and then lost this past Saturday against a struggling All Blacks team that had lost five out of six games in the lead up.
Part of the reason for their inconsistent performances could be because of a lack of a killer attitude, with the team guilty of respecting their opponents too much, but it also comes down to a game plan which can always go either way, and that is why they will never become a dominant force.
