After falling 21-20 behind in the 60th minute against a much-improved Wales side, the Springboks managed to avoid what would have been an embarrassing reversal by scoring 17 points, including two tries, to clinch a win that was not nearly as convincing as the scoreline suggests.

After a strong start which took them 14-3 ahead after just 18 minutes, a rout was in the offing. But South Africa lost concentration, patience and structure to allow the Welsh back into the game.

Physicality remains the Springboks’ greatest asset and that is why there has to be balance in Peter de Villiers’ approach in the Tri-Nations.

Against Wales in Pretoria, De Villiers opted for exhibition rugby as a game plan - and all he did was help create the illusion that in a week Wales had turned from whipping boys to heroes.

The All Blacks or Australia would have beaten the the World Champions comfortably in Pretoria.  That’s the reality De Villiers has to take from the weekend debacle because ignorance and arrogance determined an approach that showed a disregard for the values of Test rugby.

The Springboks did not have the match conditioning or psyche to play the expansive game demanded of them by their coach in Pretoria and that is why Wales were in the match on the hour. Ordinarily, with a bit more structure and commonsense from the Boks, the game would have been won in the first 20 minutes instead of the last 20.

Our players want structure and they want the comfort of routine. South African packs get their stature from being stronger in the collisions. It is also this physicality that upsets the fluidity of teams such as New Zealand and Australia.

Introducing a new philosophy can benefit the evolution of the Springboks in the next 5-10 years, but any philosophy has to accommodate the culture of those expected to implement this philosophy.

The current generation of Bok players is the most talented in the South African professional age and on balance the Boks are the most potent squad in the world game this year. But these players need structure and, within the parameters of that framework, the belief that it is OK to play what is in front of them.

The Boks in Pretoria were flamboyant, but they were also dumb in their approach. Intelligence in approach will bring success against New Zealand and Australia. Thanks to a crazy game plan in Pretoria which involved a “run at all costs” approach, showed a distinct lack of intelligence because they played to the strength of a much weaker team and at the same time nullified their own strength.

The All Blacks are masters of the expansive game and are at least 10 years ahead of South Africa in that area, so the Boks should revert to their structured play on July 5 and they will win for the first time in 10 years. Apart from a few individuals within the All Black team, pound for pound the world champions are stronger.