EXCLUSIVE | The Springboks were the more dominant team, says disappointed Bok legend Steven Kitshoff

Springbok great Steven Kitshoff feels the Springboks were the more dominant team in the Eden Park showdown with the All Blacks and is convinced they will bounce back this week in Wellington.

The Boks started the Rugby Championship match in Auckland poorly but were on top in the second half, before losing 24-17.

“It was a disappointing result because the Springboks had plenty of opportunities to score points or enter into the New Zealand 22,” said Kitshoff, who was a ZARbet ambassador, at Pirates Rugby Club on Saturday in Johannesburg.

“A couple of things went against them, but in my opinion, the Springboks were the more dominant team, and it makes for an exciting second Test.”

Kitshoff, a veteran of 83 Tests at loosehead prop for South Africa, was a fascinated observer of the set scrum battle.

“The All Blacks got away with a few things in the scrums, but when it mattered most, the Boks did capitalise. They got a few turnover scrums, and a tighthead led to Malcolm Marx’s try.

“We got the penalties when we needed them, but the scrum is not being blown as accurately as we would like it to be. Hopefully, next week there are some more opportunities to power into the All Blacks at scrum time.”

Kitshoff said the Boks will be frustrated with the number of errors that have crept into their game this season.

“The inaccuracies will be a sticking point in the Monday meeting,” Kitshoff said. “The coaches will point things out, the players will do the same, and the leadership group will come together and speak about it.

“For a Springbok side to create six or seven opportunities to either score points or enter the 22, and come away empty-handed, is shocking.

“Since the two Aussie Tests, it has been an issue for the Boks. They create but they can’t convert. There will be a hard look at that as they try to find solutions.

“Maybe instead of an expansive style of playing, we might see them play tighter, a bit more of what we saw in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. Maybe some more forward-dominant rugby with the backs calling some trigger plays from the back.”

Kitshoff, who was forced to retire earlier this year because of a neck injury, said the Springboks won’t be downhearted after the loss.

“From an emotional point of view, the Boks won’t be too upset because I think they played a decent brand of rugby; they just did not convert.

“There are a lot of positive things they can take out of that match, but to keep the Rugby Championship dream alive, they need a big win in Wellington. Hopefully, Argentina put one over Australia, then the competition will be wide open again.

“The Boks were good. The scoreboard might not say it but they had chances to win,” Kitshoff concluded.