5 things we learned from SANZAR warm up games

1     Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel may be an exciting Springbok centre pair in the future but looking lethal against a disorganised invitation team’s defence is not necessarily indicative of potency in Test matches, and Jean de Villiers’s charisma and presence as leader – and composure and decision-making under pressure as centre and captain – may be crucial to the Boks’ chances of winning the World Cup.

2     Handré Pollard looked way off the pace as flyhalf and as goalkicker. The Rugby Championship and World Cup pool games will be used as ongoing selection trials, but Pollard’s management of game strategy and execution of flyhalf skills and goalkicking all need vast improvement. Fortunately, Patrick Lambie looked sharp and skilful when he came on at fullback. He deserves a start at flyhalf against Australia on Saturday.

3     Schalk Burger is not going to be left out of the starting XV for the big Tests to come – at the very least the match 23 – without a fight. Again on Saturday he showed that as a positive contributor to team performance he gives nothing away to the younger loose-forwards in contention for Test selection.

4     The All Blacks need Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, and Aaron Smith. They are much less effective as a team, particularly on attack, without those three key players.

5     Israel Dagg has a long way to go before he gets back to anywhere close to his best form. Against Samoa he looked nowhere near the classy player we know he can be, and if he is given playing time during the Rugby Championship, he will have to show mammoth improvement in order to earn selection for the All Black World Cup squad.