Perhaps I'm delusional or just optimistic, but I disagree. Sure, it wasn't a cracker in the traditional sense, in terms of a showcase of skills on the highest of stages etc, but I think there's plenty reason to believe the match was unusually positive.
I thought Aus was very imaginative of attack, and yes, the backs were firing and did a lot of the work but the forwards also did their jobs. Perhaps a bold statement but I'd say it's pretty well known by now that the saffas would bring their A game in the forward department, and the scrum was surprisingly static at stages (considering how we scrummed against Argentina, and to a lesser degree, the Aussies against the kiwis), with Aus not being able to absorb the second shove as well as they would've liked. Sure, the Aus forwards weren't punching "huge" holes on attack but there was some great drives at stages and they did well in the mauls, the boks defense was really physical, it would've taken a lot to dominate them imo and the Wallabies forwards could be forgiven for having a bad day on attack. The breakdown, however, was another story, and I would agree that the Aus forwards did not rise to the occasion.
As for the boks backs not firing, I think had a lot to do with our Shoddy kicking game. If we played more up front and with ball actually in hand it might've opened it up more for the backs. Elton was playing a style he was forced into, you could see how uncomfortable he was and that hurt the backs imo. Not to mention Aus was very alert on defense, and the backs were going to have problems breaching the line with little platform set from the forwards with the way the first half was being managed. Despite their lack of play etc, I still think they were not ordinary in terms of traditional bok backs.
I think it was a good game, with an improved Aus standing up and showing us they still want to play rugga and from an SA perspective we got our challenge and have seen the chinks in our own armour as well as dispelled some illusions.
These teams are different but are on similarly even footing after both rallying after a slump in form, the ending was great because both teams could've easily taken it despite the boks being in the dangerzone imo. I liked the passion from both teams, like Aus scoring right after conceding or SA not letting the disappointment defeat them rather than the opposition as they tended to do in Australasia in the past.
I think it's nice we had a match where both teams could be optimistic about their chances rather than one being heavy favourites and the other being woeful. Not a cracker, but because of this game the return fixture may just be! I think the match deserves a better assessment than just ordinary, however, I can see why you made that assessment as well.
Skosan on the other hand has enough going for him to be kept in the starting line-up. His wing seems secure for the most part.
Combrink needs to be involved in the back 3 somewhere, maybe even at 15.
I agree about Skosan and I've sung his praises in the past but perhaps his role needs a slight tweak if Combrinck or Leyds come into the starting squad at wing. I think Combrinck at 15 would do us a lot of good but I think we would then still need someone at 14 with a good kicking and aerial game so I'd rather Coetzee stayed at 15 so Combrinck could shore us up on the wing. AC shot himself in the foot by not including a solid replacement 14 for this match imo, now any shoring up he does on the wings will be more of a gamble, especially against NZ where seemingly, a change in personnel is most needed.
Edit: Coenie apparently broke his arm, he came back on after Nyakane was sent to the blood bin!
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