Cape Town - Former flyhalf Joel Stransky is at a loss as to how the Springboks can compete with the All Blacks.
Stransky was speaking in the aftermath of South Africa’s 57-0 loss to New Zealand in Albany at the weekend.
It was the worst defeat in the history of Springbok rugby dating back to 1891.
In an interview with New Zealand’s Radio Sport, Stransky said he didn't know what needed to be done in order for the Springboks to again be competitive against the All Blacks.
The Kiwis have won 10 of the last 11 Tests between the two nations and currently boast a healthy 56-35 win-loss record, with three draws in their 94-Test history.
“What’s the solution? Do we have better coaches in this country? Do we have better players? We’re at the bottom of a trough and a real low in terms of any type of performance and we’re trying to fight our way out of it. What the solution is, to be quite frank, I actually don’t know right now. (But) where we are right now is unacceptable,” Stransky said.
Stransky, who was the Springboks’ hero when he kicked the winning drop goal in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand, said the Boks should instead focus on beating Australia.
The Boks host the Wallabies in Bloemfontein on September 30, before tackling the All Blacks in Cape Town on October 7.
“I don’t think that’s going to be a game of vital importance,” Stransky said of the game at Newlands.
“I think the All Blacks are a step ahead of us, they’re a step ahead of Australia, they’re a step ahead of Argentina. We are all following (them) at the moment.
“They’re at the top of their game, and they have been for some time. We are at the bottom of our game. I think it’s more important for us that we tick off a couple of successes against other teams. Beating Australia in Bloemfontein is probably more important. We have to beat Australia and show that this 57-0 was a one-off. We have to gain some confidence and take that to Newlands and put in a better performance.
“But to be quite frank, after the weekend, I don’t think we can beat the All Blacks. If we play them every day of the week, whether playing at home or not, I just can’t see us beating them right now. But we’ve got to be better and we’ve got to beat Australia.”