A few initial thoughts before a proper review of the 3rd test

• All Blacks blew a few scoring opportunities while they were dominant in the first quarter of the game that could have made a big difference; they're simply not clinical enough in the same vein as Scotland, creating the chances but taking the wrong or rushed option at the last hurdle

• Boks likewise blew some good chances, a few with the incessant use of the cutout pass

• Sacha was lucky not to concede a penalty try, I couldn't hear the officials conversation so not sure it came up, but it was a case of without his hand to the ball, the ABs score

• The referee took care of the ABs cynical play with regards to side entries and cleaning players way off the rucks, AB discipline generally poor; they can't continue with this trend

• Love's shot for goal with the penalty around the 10m was probably a mistake; should have kicked for touch and kept the pressure on

• the ABs play too frantic a game right now, they lack balance; too often static behind the advantage line they just shovel the ball without setting any platform for it, leading to stuff like the Hooker intercept

• Carter was terrible on defense, he just about lost the test for the ABs; our small lads still beat the small lads of anyone else in the physical stakes; you won't see Arendse or Kolbe missing two of those tackles in a row, if they miss even one

• Our scrums and mauls remain a weapon, ABs don't have the answers and they also don't have much faith in their lineouts; they'll need to do something about their set piece, but I don't know what

• Rennie may want to focus more on creating solid attacking platforms than sneaking in illegal shenanigans at the rucks and breakdowns; the former will serve you even when you don't have a blind referee like Gardner last week

• Boks cut down the AB space wide considerably; hopefully a second viewing will make clear what they did differently, or what the ABs failed to do

I think the ABs looked really dangerous with ball in hand out wide and dropping tacklers.

There ball carriers are very hard to break down and they have a good step and tackle bust.

In the first half the ABs were knocking our forwards back, but the game swung when the boks start winning the tackle collisions.

Real difference today was finally seeing Tony ball. Backs and forward carrying, pin defenders and passing. Libbok with his passing made a massive difference.

Sasha was disappointing and should be dropped, needs to learn how to manage the game. Manie did that perfectly.

I still think we were undercooked going into this series.

The ABs have not been the same team since they lost in the Semi in 2019 WC.

So great interplay between forwards and backs

It was a sluggish battle — scrappy, physical and not without entertainment — but make no mistake, the Boks still have a great deal of work to do.

The attack looked a little better when they were operating on front-foot ball, which had very little to do with Libbok simply being on the field. And I do stress a little better. The defence in the wider channels was poor throughout, as was the first-up tackling. An average All Black side was made to look considerably more competent than it actually is.

Be that as it may, the Boks got the job done and have now given themselves an opportunity to take the series. That's what ultimately matters tonight, but there remains an awful lot to fix.

Yes, I liked how the Boks used their backline today. Sure, they made mistakes but after time - gaps started opening up in the All Blacks defence. Libbok was trying stuff until it worked. When he runs at an angle, it allows backs outside him to form an attacking line.

Even the All Black backline make mistakes when they go wide with some handling errors, but when the move clicks it is a try.