Benetton bring Sharks back down to earth on SA soil

Both those players on the wing is a 'safe' option. Both at the back and you're having to handle a different team. Sure those teams are likely to be weaker on defense but who cares about defense?

Beaudi didn't do anything? I think he did get more space yes, but he had cover coming over both times and just ran the line, couldn't do much more (and I'm not sure what Jordan could have done different if he had the same situation).

Agree that Jordan needs to get back to his electric best before he reaches Fassi level, but at least his general rugby play helped drive the better direction in the backline tonight. Big improvement from last week.

Aumua was also good and should have back on (regardles of, or perhaps exactly because of, how good Codie was).

I want to see Hotham, he's been the best half I've seen at 3 or 4 levels of the game now.

Not sure you were making the point, but yes ALB needs to be kept (and seen if he can improve there on Barrett) at 12. This test confirmed he's also not upto the required distributing at 13.

Would love to see Proctor (have game time to prove his a better benchie option, perhaps as the only back, than ALB) get a go but Reiko's defense was exceptional this morning.

Fully agree with back three. Would love to see Beauden remain in the team, or even the 23, but I suspect Love and Nanai-Seturo are far better options now.

Like I said to BS, you do just enough to win when you're at the top (this is because everyone is out to make every game a nightmare for you, so destroying each of the week after week playing at 100% takes far too much out of you). So sure, when teams like the ABs and Ireland start clicking again on attack and start scoring points, the Boks will need to step up at bd speed and precision around the park, but again, with say the introduction of Sacha, they showed that they can do it 20 minute spurts to get themselves back in control of the game. Trust us. Thats what winning teams do.

ABs made 80 more post contact meters and I'd assume hundreds more running meters this morning as apposed to last week. What you saw was a much improved Bok defence who learnt from last weeks errors.

Very rarely had NZ needed to put it together for 80, SA had some very decisive bursts. That try looked inevitable for about 20minutes, and ended up being enough.