We’re bad, but Aussies are worse

Nobody really envies Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus his job, but if we had to be in his important shoes, there are two real concerns ahead of his debut Test next month.

The inconsistency of South African teams in this year’s Super Rugby edition remains a concern as they continue to play catch-up to the Kiwi machine in the competition.

But looking at the win-ratio of SA teams on Australasian soil as well as the success record against New Zealand teams in the competition, it makes for some awful reading.

In 13 matches on Australasian soil this year, SA have managed a mere two wins, while in 13 games against Kiwi opposition the winning column shows four games.

The only two wins achieved in Australasia were recorded when the Lions beat the Waratahs 29-0 in Sydney and by the Sharks when they downed the Blues 63-40 in a points-fest in Auckland.

Three of the four SA teams have tasted victory against a Kiwi team this year, but ironically the Lions, who are supposed to be the top local side, have gone down in all three matches they have played against New Zealand teams.

At Ellis Park the Lions have lost 38-35 to the Blues and 14-8 to the Crusaders, while on tour they lost 28-19 to the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend and are looking for their first Kiwi scalp tomorrow in Dunedin against the Highlanders.

On the positive side, the Bulls beat the Hurricanes 21-19 at Loftus Versfeld in their opening game of the competition – strangely enough the Canes’ only loss before going on to record eight straight wins.

The Stormers beat the Blues 37-20 at Newlands earlier in the competition and against the Chiefs tomorrow are looking for their second win over a Kiwi side at home, but also a side who they twice lost against at home in a play-off situation.

At the moment the Sharks are the most successful SA side against the Kiwis as apart from their win over the Blues on tour, they also annihilated the muchfancied Highlanders 38-12 in Durban last weekend – no mean feat.

But while SA have a poor 4/13 record against the Kiwis, the Aussies are much worse off having lost 38 straight matches against Kiwi opposition.

It leaves rather too much food for thought.