The Springboks were visibly frustrated after their 30-13 drubbing at the hands of the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

At the post match press conference, both Peter de Villiers and John Smit were in a sombre mood, and along with Ryan Kankowski and Ruan Pienaar, there were subtle digs at Irish referee George Clancy.

“It was very disappointing. It was very tough for us in the breakdowns and I thought there were a couple of harsh decisions against us, especially on attack. They spoilt our ball, slowed it down a couple of times. I’m sure Australia will be happy with the way the breakdowns were blown in this game, but I thought the referee was harsh on us. Every time we made a mistake in the ruck, he penalised us, but when they did the same thing, they would get away with it,” said scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.

ILL-DISCIPLINE

There was much talk before the match about how the Boks would be more disciplined and any player receiving a yellow card would be fined internally by the team.

I’m not sure what it achieved, as within the opening 2 minutes Jaque Fourie was yellow carded for a spear tackle. There were moans from the South African contingent, but I felt it was a fair call, as the tackle was dangerous and reckless.

Considering Fourie was suspended for an almost copycat tackle in last year’s Tri-Nations, you have to wonder if the players actually learn from their mistakes sometimes. At least when Quade Coooper performed a similar tackle he recieved the same punishment, and both players now have to face the SANZAR judiciary.

BJ Botha was also sin-binned for flopping over the ball, a call I felt was harsh as he was pushed over and clearly tried not to interfere with the Wallabies ball. Considering David Pocock got away with a deliberate and more cynical offence, it was a tough pill to swallow. Still, those are the types of calls that don’t seem to go your way when you are losing.

POOR REFEREEING

Earlier in the week, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and SARU corresponded with the IRB in regards to the ‘poor’ and ‘one-sided’ refereeing they have been recieving. Once again there were calls that wer inconsistent and hurt the Springboks.

On the supersport commentary both Matthew Pearce and Bob Skinstad were frustrated with the referee, with Skinstad even saying the Boks cannot beat a side playing with 16 men!

However inequality in refereeing against the Springboks is nothing new. I personally believe that much of the prejudice against South Africa stems from the past and the political situation. Rightly or wrongly, that is simply the way it is, the Boks have and will continue to have an extra obstacle to overcome, and bleating on and on about it is not going to change it.

It didn’t cause us to lose, and it didn’t cause us to miss tackles. Although you could argue that turnovers or allowing the opposition to get ball they otherwise wouldn’t have got, puts your defence under presure when you’d perhaps be attacking instead.

I think the Springbok focus is in the wrong areas, and they should rather look towards themselves first as they have not performed to their potential.

The question has also been asked whether the use of Northern Hemisphere referees has been a factor (during the Super 14 it was all Southern Hemisphere officials). That is irrelevant in my opinion, as the Kiwis and Aussies are in exactly the same situation.

EXCUSES ARE FOR LOSER

Last year Springbok captain John Smit said “Excuses are for losers.”

We can not complain about Bakkies Botha’s suspension, Danie Rossouw’s yellow card in Wellington (he should never have even put himself in the situation of getting involved with McCaw) or Jaque Fourie’s spear tackle.

I am sure all Springbok supporters want to see the team winning again, and to do so rapidly. The only way I can see that happening is if the side takes ownership of their own performances, and is prepared to rise above whatever challenges are presented.

Champions can overcome all adversity. Champions are smart. If the referee is a factor, we need to be better than that. Limit his effect. Take him out of the equation. Become street-smart, give him no option to penalise you, and you can then control your own destiny.

For the sake of all us Springbok supporters, I hope the Boks look within as I am sure they will then rise above once more.