There are a few things we’ve learnt from the Rugby Championship this year.
And topping that list is the fact that the Springboks have caught up with New Zealand and coach Rassie Erasmus actually has a starting XV that can beat the world champions.
It was evident again at Loftus on Saturday.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Springboks still led the match 30-18 and were on their way to what would have been a historical win over New Zealand - the first time South Africa would have beaten them twice in a row since 1999.
But then Erasmus had to bring on his bench players and they just capitulated to lose the match 32-30.
You can blame Erasmus for the inexperience on his bench – guys such as Embrose Papier and Damian Willemse got too little time off the bench during the tournament to be able to finish off a match of this magnitude.
LACKING GAME MANAGEMENT: Young Papier. Photo: HERNAN BARRIOS / BACKPAGEPIX
Lock replacement RG Snyman and tighthead prop sub Vincent Koch – back in the team for the first time since 2016 – were also too green to handle the situation.
It was Koch’s failed ruck clearance of Ardie Savea that led to the All Black stealing the ball on the New Zealand tryline to end a move that would surely have hammered down the final nail in the coffin for the Kiwis with 11 minutes or so to go.
The Boks conceded another breakdown penalty with five minutes left to play when Snyman cleaned captain Siya Kolisi at a ruck instead of the opposition.
SPEED UP: Damian Willemse. Photo: CHRIS RICCO/BACKPAGEPIX
Now Willemse and Papier are both players that can speed up the game and the former proved his class with one delightful step.
But it’s the calmness and the game management that was lacking as the Boks tried to defend a decent lead.
And that’s where big-match experience comes in - while the All Blacks’ bench made the difference for them, the Boks crumbled.
It is, however, not all doom and gloom for the Boks.
Their starting XV can run with the big dogs.
And credit has to go to Erasmus for getting a starting XV ready that can do so.
The Boks now have four games left until the end of year.
It’s clear that Erasmus already has a good idea of what his starting XV will look like when they play NZ in their World Cup opener next year in Japan.
He knows who he wants to bring on to speed up the game and kill off opponents.
NEEDS TOP SUBS: Rassie Erasmus. Photo: GAVIN BARKER/BACKPAGEPIX
The next step should be to get those players ready for the mental requirements of Test match rugby and killing off opponents when they are bleeding.
Now I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the Springboks should take a youthful team on their tour of the UK.
Start with Papier at No.9, play Willemse in the position you are going to use him in, start Snyman in the middle of the engine room and most importantly; test different fetchers.
We have to see what Marco van Staden is made of and bring in Duane Vermeulen.
The defeat to the All Blacks left a bad taste in the mouths of a number of supporters, but once the emotion starts fading, know that these Boks are definitely heading in the right direction.