I think the Boks are in trouble; not that I think the Blacks are playing that great by their standards.
I was surprised how un-Bok like the SAffer defence was in Perth and the lack of penetration of the backs was Wallabies-like. Nor did their big ball runners get too far with Aussies holding onto their ankles. Their lineout has lost its mojo, and what is happened to JdV - or more exactly: if he is injured, why is he playing?
I see that Louw is coming into the side to give the Boks a bit more presence over the ball. I don't remember his being an ace fetcher. It is a tough call on young Coetzee to be benched because I thought he was one of the Boks best players last week. They played him on the openside and though he's played there for the Sharks when Alberts played on the blind, it's not really his position. If they wanted to play Louw I would have kept Coetzee and put him on the other flank and benched Alberts, who was almost anonymous except when missing a tackle.
But they made the right call last week starting Pienaar as scrummie. Hougaard is versatile but he is a bit like his countryman Sarel Pretorious in that he is strong in the run, but less so in the pass and the kick.
And what about the Blacks? I thought they were ordinary in Sydney and in that test against Ireland they nearly lost. At Eden Park they won by over 20 but scored only 1 try against an embarrassing Aussie team - and they looked rattled in the rain for a while against the Argies. The trouble for opponents is that their below average performances come with periods of brilliance, almost despite themselves.
On the face of it the Boks have no hope but I remember another game in Dunedin a few years ago when they upset the Blacks. You never know.
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Helped my daughter move today and I think I'll be asleep by 9pm.