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Johannesburg - Springbok captain John Smit admitted on Saturday that his team's three-match losing streak would demand urgent remedial action after they were walloped 30-13 by the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Smit said the team had been badly off the mark in all three Tri-Nations matches overseas.
"We haven't really even played our game yet, we just haven't been on the money. We need to dig deep and work hard and once we manage to put some good rugby together, then we will be able to see if we're heading in the right direction. At stages we've played well, but nowhere near what we're capable of," Smit said.
The hooker said there was no surprise at some of the marvellous running rugby the Wallabies produced.
"We were pretty certain they were going to use the same technique as the All Blacks did against us, playing at pace while also slowing down our ball," Smit said.
The skipper acknowledged that his team had struggled badly in the contest at the breakdowns, singling out an inspired David Pocock as the chief thorn in their flesh.
"Pocock was all over the breakdown, he had a massive game and we did not match him. If you're not going to go hard at the breakdown, if you neglect that area, then Tri-Nations teams will really hurt you by slowing down your ball. We've been poor at the breakdowns in all three games," Smit said.
Most onlookers believed referee George Clancy had been as much of a foe for the Springboks as Pocock, but Smit deflected all questions about whether his team had been fairly treated by the officials.
Flank Ryan Kankowski did, however, have a subtle dig at the Irishman.
"It's always physical at the breakdowns and every referee blows it differently. I think we didn't see how the referee blew it this evening," Kankowski said.
Smit said the defence was his biggest concern after the Springboks produced an insipid first-time tackling display that allowed the Australians to constantly get over the advantage line.
"Without a doubt, our defence has been the poorest facet of our game these last three weeks. That really hurts us and we are very aware of what we have to do. It must come from us if we are going to change it," Smit said.
The famous in-your-face defence of the Springboks was sadly absent on Saturday and raises serious questions about the current mood in the squad.
Johannesburg - Springbok captain John Smit admitted on Saturday that his team's three-match losing streak would demand urgent remedial action after they were walloped 30-13 by the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Smit said the team had been badly off the mark in all three Tri-Nations matches overseas.
"We haven't really even played our game yet, we just haven't been on the money. We need to dig deep and work hard and once we manage to put some good rugby together, then we will be able to see if we're heading in the right direction. At stages we've played well, but nowhere near what we're capable of," Smit said.
The hooker said there was no surprise at some of the marvellous running rugby the Wallabies produced.
"We were pretty certain they were going to use the same technique as the All Blacks did against us, playing at pace while also slowing down our ball," Smit said.
The skipper acknowledged that his team had struggled badly in the contest at the breakdowns, singling out an inspired David Pocock as the chief thorn in their flesh.
"Pocock was all over the breakdown, he had a massive game and we did not match him. If you're not going to go hard at the breakdown, if you neglect that area, then Tri-Nations teams will really hurt you by slowing down your ball. We've been poor at the breakdowns in all three games," Smit said.
Most onlookers believed referee George Clancy had been as much of a foe for the Springboks as Pocock, but Smit deflected all questions about whether his team had been fairly treated by the officials.
Flank Ryan Kankowski did, however, have a subtle dig at the Irishman.
"It's always physical at the breakdowns and every referee blows it differently. I think we didn't see how the referee blew it this evening," Kankowski said.
Smit said the defence was his biggest concern after the Springboks produced an insipid first-time tackling display that allowed the Australians to constantly get over the advantage line.
"Without a doubt, our defence has been the poorest facet of our game these last three weeks. That really hurts us and we are very aware of what we have to do. It must come from us if we are going to change it," Smit said.
The famous in-your-face defence of the Springboks was sadly absent on Saturday and raises serious questions about the current mood in the squad.
