Turnovers cost us - Smit

Australia came into the Test on the back of a stinging 32-23 loss at the hands of Samoa in a game where they were outmuscled at the breakdown by the Pacific Islanders.

In the build-up to the Test against South Africa the Wallabies talked about their need to up their physicality at the breakdown and Smit said that his opponents had managed to do just that.

“They took full advantage of turnover ball and they made good decisions once they had won the turnover. We will rue those two tries in two minutes in the first half and the three tries in eight minutes in the second half.” Smit lamented.

Smit was referring to the Australia’s two big moments in the match when, in the first half Ben Alexander and Digby Ioane scored back-to-back tries while in the second half Stephen Moore, Adam Ashley-Cooper and James O’Conner each ran in a try in quick succession.

“The game was disappointing. We expected more and things could have got even uglier out there. If we had taken our chances it would have been easier but we didn’t,” said Smit.

“They certainly turned their week around in terms of the breakdown and physicality. They were hurt in that area last week but they turned up today,” he added.

“We just didn’t get to the breakdown quickly enough and their backs are always good if you give them quick ball,” he explained.

Bok coach Peter de Villiers echoed his skipper’s sentiments.

“I thought the scrums and line-outs were pretty even but we couldn’t look after our own ball at the breakdown and they won the counter-rucking battle,” De Villiers explained.

“If you don’t look after the ball properly they will take their chances brilliantly. Some people may say that we conceded some soft tries but the decisions they made were well thought out,” De Villiers added.

Australia scrumhalf Will Genia gave the Springbok defence kittens with his powerful running from the base of the scrumhalf with his blindside breaks proving to be particularly deadly against some wayward defending.

Genia was named man of the match for his performance and Smit said that, although his team had planned to counteract Genia, they simply were not able to.

“Genia is a good player. He is one of those players you talk about during the week. He is always a threat around the edges and he showed that again today,” Smit explained

“We planned for him as best as possible and we still made defensive errors when he took us around the blindside. He keeps guys busy and he forces guys to make decisions.”

The Springboks’’ Tri-Nations campaign does not get any easier as they now head across the Tasman to take on New Zealand in Wellington.