We are barely half way through the accustomed year end tours and already we have a few issues arising that I believe deserve some debate. Unfortunately, it stems from Bok failures rather than Bok success. At the end of a dominated Tri-Nations and Lions series, I seriously believed that the Bok camp was set for success at least until next years Tri-Nations. While i take nothing away from the French, who also beat the All Blacks earlier this year, the Boks have looked limp compared to that of the 3N’s and Lions games.

While the Boks have lost 2 key players in F.Steyn and JDV to overseas, the same could be said about numerous players from the all blacks and the aussies losing players over the last couple of seasons.

What has happened to turn the fortunes of the Boks so badly on its head that they head into the Italy game with a 0 from 3 return so far on this tour? Is it down to selection issues? Coaching issues? Fatigue issues? or did we all simply over rate a strong Bok team with a winning, 1 dimentional game plan that when it doesn’t work, there is no plan B or C?

What is the purpose of year end tours if these midweek games are not building/blooding new players but more to be showing who NOT to pick? it seems that these midweek Bok teams are not even the second best players in their positions?

I hope for the sake of SH pride and for the vital role that the Boks play in world rugby that they turn this around and put out a convincing win against the Italians and Irish, but how likely does that look given the last 3 games and players picked for this tour in general?