After watching the Springboks lose their first two Tri-Nations away matches by a combined total of six points, coach Jake White returned home Sunday looking for better things in his team's final two rugby matches in South Africa.
The Springboks lost 23-21 to New Zealand in Christ-church on July 24 and then were beaten 30-26 to Australia on Saturday in Perth, both defeats coming after the visitors took early leads.
Making the loss more difficult for White was watching his former protege, Clyde Rathbone, score the winning try for the Wallabies on Saturday.
Rathbone was captain of the South Africa under-21 side which White coached to the world championship. But Rathbone moved to Australia last year, gaining residency because his grandmother was born in Australia.
Earlier this year, Rathbone committed himself to Australia and the Wallabies despite White's urgings.
"The thing that hurt the most was seeing that bloody No. 14 in the gold jersey diving over in the corner to score the match-winning try," White said. "Can you write a script any better than that? An ex-player who dives over in the corner and takes the game away from you."
White said inexperience and a lack of composure had cost his team in the opening two matches.
"We lacked composure -- if I can find a guy who can teach that I'll employ him tomorrow. And the inexperience of this young side -- it's something you can't buy," White said.
"Australia has shown the value of keeping a side together for a long time," he added. "You have to give the credit to a well-coached team that knows how to win."
Meanwhile, Wallaby coach Eddie Jones said his side is slowly improving, but has a fair distance to go before it can join New Zealand at the top.
Australia stayed in touch with New Zealand on the Tri-Nations table with its Saturday win, but the All Blacks can retain the southern hemisphere crown with a win over the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday.
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