Shoddy conditioning led to Boks’ downfall

Johannesburg - The abiding memory of the Springboks’ loss to Wales – their third in succession on their tour of Europe, which followed their first defeat to Italy the week before – was how they were strolling from set phase to set phase, despite being behind.

As the feigned injuries and excessive double-knotting of shoelaces drove the Welsh commentators up the wall, because they could see delay tactics by a team that couldn’t live with the game’s pace, South African rugby’s greatest weakness, shoddy conditioning, was laid bare.

It’s an issue that has been discussed since 2014, when Heyneke Meyer was coach, and is a topic that is now up for further dissection at the conditioning indaba on Wednesday.