The dust has almost settled from the weekend’s tough to stomach defeat and there has been minimal office talk about THAT match.

A shout out to the Proteas and AB de Villiers, the man is a freak and we are fortunate to be watching him at the peak of his considerable powers.

But we must unfortunately reflect on what happened Saturday and Mark Keohane, rugby scribe and straight shooter is somewhat less sombre in defeat than others I have spoken with. Here is his scathing attack from SARugbyMag:

South Africa has become the Wales of rugby. Coming second is applauded. Coming second is accepted as a moral victory if the players bleed, cry and continue to get up after every knock-down.

Analysis is never a consideration and the South African rugby media were consistent in rating the Boks’ defeat seven from 10.

‘So close’ screamed headlines. But it was not close at all, when defining a champion and a pretender who refuses to accept that coming second in a contest of two makes them the loser.

The effort rated eight, the bravery 10 and the rugby four or five…

The New Zealanders play with passion; the Boks play with a pained desperation that is interpreted as passion. It’s manic and never sustainable for 80 minutes.

The pattern each time has been the same. The Boks find an emotional trigger that defies logic for an hour and then when the well runs dry, they offer nothing by way of skill or attack…

Meyer’s selections, game-plan approach and winning return against the world’s best in four years has produced continued failure.

There should be no reward for coming second in a contest of two and a street fighter’s courage should never be confused for a rugby team’s failure.

The Boks, as men, fronted as men but offered little by way of rugby…

The rugby of the Boks was a failure and instead of the reward of patriotic applause for bravery, there should be a robust and rational Saru review in which there is a consequence to the coach and players who failed the rugby exam seven times out of eight against the All Blacks.

I’m not all that keen to pick at the fresh scab that is the loss but you can make of Keo’s analysis what you will.

In an unrelated matter at what time on a Monday is it acceptable behaviour to start drinking?

[source:sarugbymag]