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Morne Steyn hasn’t played a Springbok Test for two years, so he celebrated his return by booting four penalties and two drop goals to beat the Wallabies 18-10 on his own.
All the wash-up from Springboks vs Wallabies:
» Match report: Wallabies fall short
» Five talking points
» McMahon injures ankle
» What changes should the Wallabies make for Argentina?
» DIY player ratings
» Re-live all the action with our live blog
» Watch highlights from the match
Yet the Wallabies were the best team on the night, but the worst in converting possession and territory into points.
When loosehead prop Scott Sio scored his first try in 23 internationals in the 14th minute, which Bernard Foley converted, for the next 65 minutes the Wallabies couldn’t score any more points.
Yet the men in gold enjoyed 55 per cent possession and 60 per cent territory – go figure.
By my reckoning, the Wallabies left seven tries on Loftus and as frustrating as it was to watch, the Wallabies were their own worst enemy through lack of patience, and lack of discipline.
What a waste.
And when the opposition has a renowned sharp-shooter like Steyn, the Wallabies paid the penalty.
Result apart it wasn’t all grim – Will Genia and Adam Coleman were outstanding for the Wallabies.
I didn’t think Genia could get any better, but he just keeps raising the performance bar with snappy and accurate service, solid defence, and being inspirational.
Having said that, it would be much more beneficial to the Wallabies if he ran more, and kicked less.
He’s a very dangerous runner, sniping either side of set play, or in the loose, while his kicking, at best, is pretty ordinary.
Behemoth lock Coleman is the find of the season, he too keeps improving every game.
For someone who has only been around for “five minutes”, he’s already the lineout caller, while he can be devastating in both attack and defence.
Lineouts?
Still a Wallaby problem, losing three own feeds in 15, and not winning any of the 15 Springbok feeds.
Why it’s so difficult to win own feeds is still mystifying.
It’s also mystifying why coach Michael Cheika keeps Lopeti Timani watching from the stand.
Timani was the loser as the one omitted when Cheika decided on a 5-3 bench.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. When new No.8 Sean McMahon was forced to leave the field with an ankle injury, Timani was the best replacement, but Scott Fardy was the only possibility on the bench.
A permanent place has to be found for Lopeti Timani.
Back to the credit column, and three Wallabies under the pump had better games – skipper Stephen Moore, apart from his lineout feeding, Dean Mumm, and Foley who was the best of the three.
He was dangerous in attack, while his low-tackling defence was right off the top shelf, so he has the No.12 jersey sewn up for the Puma clash at Twickenham next weekend.
Then it’s the big six one after another – the All Blacks, Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland, and England – all away.
The chance to break the Eden Park drought since 1986, and win only the Wallabies’ second Grand Slam since 1984, loom large.
But neither will happen if the Wallabies again gift-wrap a W as they did early this morning to the Boks.
Repeat – what a waste of an 80-minute effort.