David Leggat: Passion in Pretoria puts All Blacks to shame

As a stand-alone game of rugby, the All Blacks' performance against Italy was wretched.

What made it worse was what followed a few hours later.

The Christchurch test was barely watchable at times, poor skills on display in a soulless half-stadium, courtesy of World Cup rebuilding.

But then as if to sharpen that grim image, the Lions and Springboks served up a rare treat; a red-blooded, rip-roaring, edge-of-the-seat contest, with players going at it with passion, vigour and plenty of skill.

So there we had it, two versions of test rugby, the less said about one of them the better.

But let's get this out of the way first. Remember the days when teams would come to New Zealand more in hope than expectation. Win a test? In their dreams.

Not any more. A team as limited as Italy dominating territory, challenging an All Black side and hurting them as often as happened on Saturday night? These are painful days for longtime All Black watchers.

From schooldays, players have the old mantra drummed into them: forwards lay the groundwork and if it's done well, then the pretty boys out the back do the fancy stuff.

The All Blacks forgot the need for basic foundation against opponents who offered spirit, resolute defence and were armed with a fair dose of smarts by attempting to play as much of the rugby in the black half of the field.

At halftime, Wayne Smith told it like it was: "It's dumb rugby, a lot of it."

How come these All Blacks seem incapable of working out for themselves what they're doing wrong? Where is the brain power?

God forbid they actually thought they would steamroll Italy as of right. Even if they had scored 50 or more points in eight of their previous nine tests against Italy, who told them this would be another stroll in the crisp night air?

Maybe now we know why those irritating water carriers are forever running on with refreshments and instructions from on high. The players can't figure it out for themselves.

Exempt Isaac Ross from any criticism. His was a top-class performance, full of zest and enthusiasm.

But was this not supposed to be an opportunity against willing but - by the highest standards - essentially undemanding opposition for others to shine?

The New Zealand Rugby Union issued a plea for Christchurch people to get out and support their national side. Why should they, on this showing?

Why would they, if this is the dross they're going to get served up.

It was a different story at Pretoria. A cloudless day for a start - and there's your first real point of difference from Christchurch, but that's an old argument which won't get anywhere as long as money talks loudest - and a rousing contest, which rammed home the value of the skilled goalkicker.

Neither Grant Fox nor Jonny Wilkinson, to name just two, were electric-heeled attackers at No 10. But they were matchwinners par excellence. You wanted a game won, you tossed them the ball and the goals were kicked.

If South Africa are smart, they'll take very good care of Morne Steyn in the next two years.

His final booming 55m penalty with the final kick of the test killed the Lions and won the series.

And, at a time when discipline was absolutely paramount, Ronan O'Gara's witless charge on Fourie du Preez to give Steyn his opportunity will sit comfortably among the moments of great Lions blunders.

The Springboks were outplayed for much of the match by a Lions side who had heroes all over the park, but were out on their feet by the end, and badly undone by injuries.

The loss of both props, Gethin Jenkins with a fractured cheekbone and Adam Jones with a dislocated shoulder, in quick order was pivotal. That meant uncontested scrums, where for most of the match the Lions had been dominant.

Safety issues are rightly top priority, but the no-push scrums ruined an elemental part of the contest. So why not have an eighth player on the reserve bench, a front row specialist, who is only allowed on to prevent uncontested scrums taking place?

The two tests did have one thing in common. Italian captain Sergio Parisse was rubbed out of all rugby for eight weeks yesterday for his eye-gouging of Ross in Christchurch.

Schalk Burger had his fingers scrabbling around wing Luke Fitzgerald's eyes inside the first 30 seconds. His coach Pieter de Villiers, a man prone to saying peculiar things, reckoned the blond bomber didn't deserve his yellow card. In which case he was watching a different game.

If there is consistency, with Parisse's punishment an accurate guide, Burger should be gone for much longer.

But South Africans tend to assess violence on the field in a different way from other parts of the rugby world.

So don't be surprised to see Burger trotting out to face the All Blacks at Bloemfontein on July 25.