AUSTRALIA TOUR TO SA
Zaahier Adams|Updated
In much the same way that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus responded after the world champions lost the opening Test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series to the All Blacks at Ellis Park before rebounding emphatically, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has called for perspective following his side's heavy defeat to Australia at Kingsmead.
Conrad is not opposed to making changes ahead of the second Test at St George's Park this weekend, but he is equally adamant that one poor performance should not see him throw out the baby along with the bath water.
After all, the Proteas remain the World Test Champions and, just 10 months ago, scaled one of their greatest cricketing mountains by winning a Test series in India for the first time in two decades.
"Look, this was neither a calamity nor a catastrophe. We just lost a cricket Test match," Conrad said after the 214-run defeat.
"It doesn't mean that you've now got to go soul-searching and questioning all the things that we've done really well and are doing really well. We just need to get bloody better.
"And at a time like this, obviously, the leadership needs to step up and head that up. We lost the Test match. We need to be better."
A key area requiring improvement is the batting unit, particularly the top order, which again failed to convert promising starts into substantial scores.
Conrad believes the shortcomings exposed at Kingsmead were not new, but rather the continuation of a trend that has persisted throughout several recent series.
"We were out-batted, no doubt," he said. "On a wicket like that, in our first innings, you shouldn't be falling behind. We got starts, but nobody went on to make a big score. That's the disappointing part.
"But this has been coming for a while. If you look at our performances at home, whenever there's been something in the wicket against quality attacks, we've been heavily reliant on Temba and Aiden, and then lower-order runs.
"You only need to go back to Centurion or the World Test Championship final at Lord's. David has shown glimpses, but we've often relied on contributions further down the order."
The big question now is whether that frustration will translate into personnel changes for the second Test in Gqeberha.
Conrad stopped short of confirming any selections, but made it clear that places are not guaranteed.
"We need to see what Gqeberha throws up and base our decisions on the conditions and the combination we think gives us the best chance," he said.
"We need to front up, and we need the personnel we believe will front up. Will there be changes? We've got guys in our squad who probably deserve an opportunity, so that's certainly an option.
"And hopefully our Rolls-Royce (Kagiso Rabada), will be purring down the highway by then."