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Auckland - One of the interesting aspects of the Springboks' preparation for the disastrous opening Tri-Nations Test against the All Blacks in Auckland was that the players were allowed to sleep in as late as they wanted during the week, with training scheduled only for the afternoon.
John Smit's groggy appearance at a press conference early in the week shortly after waking up has already been widely publicised, but the unusual sleeping arrangements may explain why the Springboks seemed to be in La-La Land during their dreadful 32-12 defeat at the hands of the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Smit nobly made no excuses for his team's performance and was even critical of his own play and leadership.
"The All Blacks were really good tonight but we just didn't rock up, the lights were out tonight. A very poor, ill-disciplined first half killed any momentum, but we played better at the start of the second half. If we could have kept that pressure on, there was enough time for us to get back on even terms. But we were non-existent at the breakdowns, there was nothing going on on our side and we didn't put up much of a contest," Smit said.
Where the Springboks were most woefully exposed was in the physical contests at the breakdowns, collisions and tackles, and Smit said this was a mental problem as much as anything.
"Our minds just weren't in the right place, there's no need for over-analysis. It was totally out of character, normally physicality and bringing that attitude to the set-piece comes naturally for this team. But it's nothing we can't get back."
Smit said the team's discipline had not met his own exacting standards.
"It's my job to have an influence over my team, to ensure that they are well-disciplined. You can't afford to give the referee a choice, if you stay on the right side of the law, you tend to get the rub of the green when it comes to decisions. If players want to dabble in illegal things, then it's my job to keep them on the straight and narrow."
The facts when it comes to the lineouts, South Africa's greatest strength, are disturbing. The Springboks lost two of their 11 throw-ins, while the All Blacks were faultless through 10 lineouts. Smit had the good grace to admit his delivery was not what it should have been.
"Our lineout has been good for a long time, but I have to take it on the chin, I've been poor all week in missing my jumpers. We should have done a lot more in the air and Victor (Matfield) will be frustrated with the kind of balls I threw to the guys," the hooker said.
Coach Peter de Villiers is confident, however, that he has the answers to the poor display.
"There's no need to panic, it's nothing we can't fix. It's not a train smash, it's only the first game of the Tri-Nations. Now we need to stop the momentum of a great team but our destiny is in our own hands," De Villiers said.
The City of Sails has never been a happy venue for the Springboks, Saturday's loss being their sixth in nine Tests there. But they have also been shy of their best at next Saturday's venue - Wellington. The embarrassing results there read three straight maulings at the hands of the All Blacks - 41-20 in 2002, 35-17 in 2006 and 19-8 in 2008.
There is surely no way the Springboks will play as poorly as they did in Auckland next weekend, though. There ought to be considerably more fire in their bellies.
"The only positive from this game is that we can't get any worse. Just losing this Test will be enough motivation, we will learn from a poor defeat that was a disappointment for all of us," Smit said.
