While the overriding public opinion may fluctuate on how bad the All Blacks were in their loss to the Springboks, one statistic does underline just how dangerous they can be - and in turn just how good the Springbok scramble defence was on the weekend.
According to the official statistics of the game, the All Blacks beat 25 defenders on the day, as opposed to the Springboks’ nine, showing that the men in black were desperately trying to get their attacking game going, and almost succeeded.
But the heart of the Springbok defence, which may have missed some first-time tackles but made the ones that count, went a long way to them controlling the pressure and winning the game.
It is, however, a statistic that will stick with the Boks ahead of this week’s return match at Ellis Park, where the All Blacks will be just as desperate and it may well be the last throw of the dice for their beleaguered coach Ian Foster.
There were times that the All Blacks - although trailing in possession and territory - looked as if they were going to break through. But each time a telling tackle, a spilled ball or a Springbok counterpunch stopped them in their tracks.
In essence, that is what is so different around this All Black side - if the same statistic were applied to teams of the past, there is no way there would have been a 16-point margin at the end of the day.
But this All Black team is low on confidence and the Boks were high on defence on a weekend when the will to win was firmly with the home side.
Jasper Wiese’s ankle tap on Will Jordan during the game and Damian Willemse tracking down Caleb Clarke - although it did lead to Shannon Frizzell’s try - showed just the level of determination and desperation in the Springbok camp to make every tackle count.
It showed they were clearly desperate to ensure a Springbok victory, but it also highlighted, to those who watched carefully, how this All Black side could explode if they are given a bit more leeway.
The Boks' biggest assets this weekend were their kicking game and their ability to win the jackal at the breakdown. Both caused the All Blacks untold headaches while 17 turnovers in the game by the All Blacks tells the story of their own demise.
It isn’t surprising then that beleaguered coach Ian Foster has targeted the Bok kicking game in his post-match comments and called on officials to give the All Blacks more protection in the air.
Foster knows that if he succeeds, a vital part of the Bok game can be nullified and at the moment will want all the help he can get.
What he won’t be able to persuade the officials of is the breakdown, where the All Blacks were beaten to the ball and the Bok ball cleaners were a second faster, and their jacklers over the ball like lightning. Malcolm Marx, in particular, caused all sorts of nightmares for the Kiwis and that is likely to continue this weekend at Ellis Park.
But while fans may rejoice at a great victory, inside the Bok camp they will know how close the All Blacks were to breaking free and scoring. Twenty-five defenders beaten tells a story.
It will be one that will demand focus in training this weekend if the Boks want to repeat their victory in Johannesburg.