Conscious of the world champion South Africans' dented pride, New Zealand coaches and players were quick to downplay the comprehensive nature of their 19-8 win at Westpac Stadium.
Coach Graham Henry will be desperate that the air of vulnerability surrounding his team last week somehow be restored as he can't expect the Springboks to be so error-prone at Carisbrook.
Another week to adjust to the Experimental Law Variations will be like gold for the world champions who will strike an All Blacks side missing lock Brad Thorn, suspended for a week for his lifting tackle on John Smit.
Henry pointed out just one of the nine matches that make up the Tri-Nations had been played and that the standards reached on Saturday wouldn't be enough later in the tournament -- thoughts possibly reinforced by Australia's 40-6 demolition of France.
"We didn't scrum as well as we normally do ...and our defence on the short side was found wanting at times," Henry said.
"You don't learn without going through the battles. If we don't get better next week, we'll get second."
Henry's assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen were more succinct about where their team fell short.
Smith said the 15 missed tackles was due to poor adjustment to the Experimental Law Variations, where too many players were flying into tackles and rucks rather than numbering up defensively. That was the problem in the leadup to the Springboks' sole try, to winger Bryan Habana.
"We're pretty keen to get that turnover ball to attack with but we chased a couple of lost causes and then got caught out numbers-wise," Smith said.
"They came to play rugby a lot more than have in the last four years here but usually if you can go through 80 minutes without them scoring from an intercept or a charge down, you're doing pretty well."
Hansen said the arrival of 2.07m reserve Springboks lock Andries Bekker had sent some unnecessary flutters through their late lineouts, with six throws lost in the second half.
Key New Zealand lineout figure Ali Williams was sure Anthony Boric could step in for Thorn although it would be difficult to emulate the unique qualities of the bulldozing former rugby league second-rower.
Williams had endured a nervous lunch with locking partner Thorn on game day.
"We sat there and said very little,' Williams recalled.
"The best way to get rid of your nerves is to hook into a tackle or run with the ball.
"We just knew it was going to be a physical game and the side that didn't bring it was going to be made to look silly."
"Physically he just loves it, he dominates people, I've got so much respect for him."
Williams thanked the coaches for allowing him a light buildup to ensure his ankle injury would recover.
"Individually I had a few challenges but the faith that they show in this camp to individuals is enormous," he said.
"And it was a special game for both of us, we were really up to the challenge."
Springboks hooker and captain Smit is in doubt for Dunedin with a groin injury, with Stormer Schalk Brits to arrive with the team today in Wellington, where they will prepare until Thursday.
Smit believed his team were much better than an 11-point loss to a New Zealand side still supposedly finding their feet after mass overseas defections.
"It was a pity that we didn't get another try or get a bonus point out of this. I felt we deserved that," Smit said.
"New Zealand defended well, kicked much better than us and we certainly didn't deserve to win.".
All Blacks hooking opposite Andrew Hore gave some belated and surprise thanks to the disappointing England tourists who crashed to two heavy losses last month for New Zealand's powerful forward effort on Saturday.
"We had a good rehearsal against England, they tried to beat us up too," Hore said of the English pack.
"They (Springboks) are pretty similar. They like to dominate and they're pretty keen on smashing you around a little bit."
Hore was again a prominent figure and said he was revelling in having started ahead of veteran Keven Mealamu in all four tests this season.
"I'm starting to feel like a real All Black and really enjoying it.
"Knocking off the world champs is not a bad way to start the Tri-Nations."
