Ferocious Boks lacked flair, says ex coach

South Africa lost their World Cup showdown with England because they failed to back up their ferocious forward power with flair, according to former national coach Nick Mallett.

Writing in the Sunday Times in Johannesburg, Mallett said the Boks were short of a match-winner and, despite all the optimism in the republic, yesterday’s 25-6 defeat was no surprise.

“What a pity the Springboks couldn’t add flair to their ferocity yesterday,” wrote Mallett.

“They were brave and ballsy, but you need more than bloody-mindedness to beat England. You need match-winners.

“The Boks gave the favourites a very tough game, but what is sad is that we used to be the favourites ourselves and now we no longer are.

“We just make it tough for the opposition, like England, who absorb pressure and move on.”

Mallett said the balance of world rugby power had shifted and the Springboks were slipping down the pecking order.

And England flanker Lewis Moody’s chargedown of Koen’s attempted clearance kick which led to the only try of the match, had proved decisive.

“You don’t want to blame yesterday’s shattering loss on one guy, but Louis Koen missed five kicks and to have another in open play charged down at a vital period of the game really cost the Springboks,” he wrote.

“Notwithstanding the South African peoples’ amazing sense of optimism – which is seldom based on reality – the result wasn’t a great surprise.

“The match definitely swung on the chargedown kick. England clinically shifted to 13 points ahead and steadily improved their control and organisation.

“The Boks had no answer. They tried, but I never felt they were going to score.

“Physically, England were well up for it.

“South Africa never created a clear-cut scoring chance and although we also stopped England from doing so, we made the critical technical error with the chargedown kick. What a blow.”

Mallett said the the defeat left the Boks with a formidable task if they hoped to reach the final.

“Our big worry was our inability to score and the certain predictability in our game,” he said.

“We tried to move turnover ball wide a couple of times, but it failed against England and would fail against New Zealand, who I expect the Boks will now face in the quarterfinals.

“We must be very sure of our ball retention against the All Blacks or else they will bury us.

“After yesterday, it’s all uphill – the Boks are now on the low road.”