As harsh as it sounds, Neemia Tialata was a classic example. The behemoth scrummager, who could rule the front-row on his own, had just been tended for a strained knee by the medical staff. Minutes later he decided to try a 22-metre dropout pick-up off his big foot, ending with nothing but a 'free kick’ to hand three more soft points to the Springboks on a platter.

When such absurd moments arise, they’re better off changing the ‘free-kick’ laws by maybe actually ordering the nominated goal-kicker to kick his backside instead. Then again, whoever gave Tialata the ball in the first place should also be given the extra ‘strap’.

Seriously, was this a plan or was it just plain stupidity to attempt a ridiculous stunt of which only the Jackass movie producers would have been proud? Forwards coach Steve Hansen’s post-game assessment was a little tiresome when he repeated the same comments and pondered on and on about what might have been.

He kept saying the players will work on the lineouts and improve next time, but you have to wonder what the hell they were doing at training … just standing in formation and picking their noses, or were they practising their lifting like they’d do at ballet class?

To add insult, we had Andrew Hore’s ‘heroic’ honesty which, plain to see, was an attempt to gain more brownie points and get into coach Graham Henry’s good books. How else could you disguise the sorry excuses of not being able to throw straight for two Tests in a row?

The problem is, the All Blacks continue to be intimidated by Victor Matfield, who single-handedly owned the lineouts right from the start. It’s a damn shame that his individual prowess was not used as a challenge for the All Blacks to at least make an effort in contesting his calls.

Yet Matfield could’ve been blindfolded and still have grabbed the New Zealand throws with ease. No doubt he’s good, but the All Blacks made him look unbelievably indestructible.

Amazingly, there were more gaffes. If Hore wasn’t bad enough, half-back Brendon Leonard was penalised for not putting in straight at scrum time. He was punished at consecutive scrums. Goodness gracious me, I don’t even want to know what he did at training.

Then there was the rather forgettable uncharacteristic display of self-destruction when Piri Weepu decided to call ‘timeout’ so that he could feast on some Kit-Kat from his pockets before texting his mum to say he was missing her, all in the middle of a busy ruck at a crucial stage of a Test match.

By the time he passed the ball, it went into no-man’s land – but you couldn’t blame the receiver, whose eyelids were already drooping because he was falling asleep himself – before the ever-present-and-dangerous Pierre Spies was on hand to clean up the mess and spark the breakthrough.

Following the ensuing comedy of juggling and panic, it was McCaw’s opposite number, Juan Smith, who bobbed up for the try assist, and centre Jaque Fourie delighted the raucous crowd by racing away for a dream match-winning try.

Taking nothing away from the Springboks. They sustained enough pressure on the All Blacks who, unusually unrattled at times, can still take solace in the manner they fought back from the brink of a disastrous defeat.

Hometown hero Heinrich Brussow did himself proud and won’t forget in a hurry his unforgettable match-up with the incomparable McCaw. The Steyn boys (Francois and Morne) showed their resilience and composure with booming goals from all angles, while the Fourie boys (Du Preez and Jaque) were all class.

There were some disappointing performances from New Zealand, particularly from Hore, Leonard, and reserves Weepu and Jason Eaton. There were murmurs of making the most of the dry track but it was more a disappearing act from the noted back trio of Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu, who couldn’t muster a line-break between them.

A few could hold their heads high and Conrad Smith certainly stood tall and delivered. Jerome Kaino continues to impress, with unsung heroes Brad Thorn and Isaac Ross developing nicely, while Kieran Read is no doubt making a struggling Rodney So’oialo very nervous.

Luke McAlister must be getting frustrated with limited opportunities but Stephen Donald is revering – albeit slowly – in his role and while Ma’a Nonu may not be setting the house on fire, he’s safe and sound, which is a remarkable improvement considering his wayward concentration lapses of the past.

The make-up of this weekend’s team is unclear but hooker Keven Mealamu is due for a start. I thought the same with Weepu but after his shocking blunder at Free State, he may be better off as a sub leaving Jimmy Cowan the obvious choice as starting half-back.

Exciting young prop Owen Franks looks the goods and he may have pushed his claims to overtake Tialata, but John Afoa’s experience cannot be ignored either.

In hindsight, Henry may regret his slight ongoing usage of his favourite ‘rotation policy’ as this may just prove his undoing if these defeats become the norm.

But time is running out and he will effectively need to start maintaining his strongest possible line-up on a regular basis from hereon in.