Following 5 defeats in this year’s Tri-Nations by the most experienced side ever, how is it that the Boks are on a learning curve?

After the latest debacle in Bloemfontein where the Boks where beaten 41-39 by the Wallabies, and had to hand back their Mandela plate title, it’s surprising how the most experienced Bok side ever fielded, have not endured more criticism for being unable to close out the match when the Wallabies had to play most of the last 10 minutes with only 14 men.

After the match Springbok loosehead prop Gurthro Steenkamp said, “We can take everything this whole tri-nations as a learning curve, put it behind us and move forward.”

The full interview can be seen below courtesy of Supersport.





I struggle to comprehend what learning curve this Bok side needs to be on.

Every single player in the starting line-up has either won the Rugby World Cup or the Super 14 competition. Add to that most of them have won Tri-Nations, Currie Cups, multiple Super 14′s and a British and Irish Lions series.

It was the most experienced Bok side ever fielded. Why the need for a learning curve? Shouldn’t they know what and how to win?

The Wallabies by comparison are a young and inexperienced side and have had massive injury problems to many key players. They certainly learned a lesson pretty quickly from Loftus.

I am not having a go at Steenkamp, who is probably just repeating what is being said by the entire side. What I am having a go at is a side that keeps giving us excuses, fails to learn, and is alienating their supporters further and further every game.