I was at Newlands on Saturday and I think the Springboks were lucky to get nought in their 19-0 'Blackwash' against New Zealand. Springbok fans analysing the positives of the day's play in this Tri-Nations clash in Cape Town struggled to the conclusion that the Boks arguably had nicer jerseys and their socks were even for most of the game. The rest was bleak and all black.

The touring New Zealanders made it six wins in nine matches in South Africa, which is in stark contrast to the All Blacks' single loss in a decade at home (or one in 43 years at the House of Pain against the Boks).

Most irritating was Graham Henry rubbing South African noses in their 2008 Olympic Games disaster in the post-match talks. The New Zealand coach clearly is a master in clambering for the high ground and he wasn't able to resist the 'superiority' New Zealand have over lowly South Africa thanks to a handful of Olympic medals. (SA has scored a grand duck on the Beijing Olympic medals table).

Rather than wallow in despair, South Africans in transition have a view that 2008 is being written off as a 'loss leader' to contrast the change from the old to the new.

The new generation of South African sportsmen cannot have less pressure on them to perform after 2008 - as the only way is up!

South African coach Peter de Villiers is set to ring the changes in 2009 with a squad which will be more appealing to black Africans. What that means in practice is fewer white faces and the possibility of a dip in performance as the guard is changed. Within that equation, 2008 'smoothes' the transformation.