South Africa lost their Rugby Championship opener in Brisbane to the Wallabies 24-20 despite leading 20-7 after 50 minutes, conceding a try after the final hooter following sustained pressure by the home side.
“I thought the Springboks were pretty impressive, they all played very well and I was impressed with their midfield, but it was a strange result. But that’s elite-level sport, a lot of games get decided on slim margins,” Smith said after the All Blacks arrived in Johannesburg ahead of most of the South African team.
“But I think South Africa will take a lot of positives out of that match, if they look at the performance rather than the result – which is what you should do – then they’ll be pretty satisfied,” he added.
Smith, one of the All Blacks’ key attacking generals at outside centre, said he believed the Springboks had looked the better side.
