It was another shocking day at the office for the World Cup winners, as Australia consigned South Africa to another season at the foot of the Tri-Nations table with a 27-15 win in Durban on Saturday.

As has been the case for most of the year, there is no structure to the Springbok game.

If you have to rate the performance of the Bok coaching staff you must give them a -10.

It is all about poor selections, poor substitutions and no game plan detectable.

What is worse, the players' skills levels are shocking and in general they look like a side that is not being coached at all. It is almost like watching a social team in the Sunday league, a bunch of hung-over old men rocking up without having trained. In fact, I've seen primary school teams with better skills levels.

Jan de Koning rates the Springbok players:

15 Conrad Jantjes:
If he is the answer to an ageing Percy Montgomery, then South Africa are in trouble. His options are poor, his hands shocking and his positional play ordinary. 4/10

14 JP Pietersen:
He ran around like a headless chicken all afternoon, mostly sideways and was replaced in the 45th minute. 3/10

13 Adrian Jacobs:
First the positives. He tried hard and did great work for two fine tries. But overall he was nothing special. That said, he was South Africa's best back. 6/10

12 Jean de Villiers:
He is still dangerous with ball in hand and can punch holes in almost any defensive line. But why, oh why, does he hold onto the ball so long? 5/10

11 Jongi Nokwe:
His inexperience was shown up by the astute Wallaby backs. That he has talent, there is now doubt. But a very naive player and tends to run across the field too much. 4/10

10 Butch James:
Other than aggression, he brings nothing to the game. Poor options, his goal-kicking is average and he gave away a crucial penalty — not to mention some very poor skills. 4/10

9 Fourie du Preez:
He is certainly not the same player as last year... perhaps rusty? Also missed a crucial tackle that allowed Tuqiri in for a try. 4/10

8 Pierre Spies:
He tries hard and brings something special to the team, but it is obvious the loose trio is not the right blend. 5/10

7 Juan Smith:
As always he shows lots of endeavour, for no real reward. Another struggling performance. 4/10

6 Schalk Burger:
Energetic and a workhorse as always, but as I said before, the loose forwards are not playing as a unit. 5/10

5 Victor Matfield (captain):
He is not the force he was in the line-outs last year and his skills levels are shocking. He works hard, but not near his best and it seems the captaincy is affecting his game. 3/10

4 Andries Bekker:
Poor discipline and a very poor work rate — often just standing around at rucks when the Wallabies drive the Boks off the ball. Was a passenger on Saturday. 2/10

3 CJ van der Linde:
Shocking discipline and very lucky not to be carded for a head-butt early in the game. He should be cited and will deserve it if he is banned. There was also a shoulder charge off the ball and a late tackle. -5/10

2 Bismarck du Plessis:
Another player who relies more on brawn than brains. 4/10

1 Tendai Mtawarira:
Good scrumming and some big hits and was the Boks' best forward. But why was he replaced? 6/10

Replacements (20 minutes or more to be rated):

16 Adriaan Strauss (on for Du Plessis in 78th minute):
Not enough time to be rated

17 Brian Mujati (on for Mtawarira — 56th minute):
The Springboks lost a lot when 'The Beast' went off. 2/10

18 Joe van Niekerk (on for Pierre Spies 56th minute):
Lost his first line-out ball, then had a good run, but turned the ball over. No real contribution. 3/10

19 Luke Watson (on for Juan Smith — 60th minute):
Hats off to Jake White for getting his assessment of Luke Watson spot on — he is not an international player, by any measure. Missed two crucial tackles on Mortlock before the Wallaby captain's try and then got in the way again when Francois Steyn tried to collect a kick downfield. He is another of Peter de Villiers' passengers. -5/10

20 Ricky Januarie (on for Fourie du Preez— 63rd minute):
Did nothing wrong, but not long enough to be rated.

21 Frans Steyn (on for James — 56th minute):
Had another of his now famous (or infamous if you like) brain explosions, while his poor discipline also cost the Boks. Made a great break, only to pass to an Aussie player. 0/10

22 Percy Montgomery (on for Pietersen — 45th minute).
Showed his experience by being a creative force that set up Jacobs' second try. But he is getting on and should be employed in a 'coaching' role. We don't want his reputation harmed by letting him carry on for too long. 5/10

  • What do you think? Who got it wrong — the Boks or Jan? Leave a comment below!
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