Despite back-to-back wins over England and Scotland, Deon Davids has flagged a recurring pattern that's drawing scrutiny: dominant starts followed by mid-game drift that allows opponents back into contests. Against England the Boks led 17-0 before the gap closed to three by half-time; against Scotland a 14-0 lead evaporated entirely before half-time. Davids points to the integration of less experienced players under match pressure as a key variable, noting that kicking game, lineout, set piece and defence have all been identified as areas requiring sharper execution. The logic is straightforward — the starting combinations are building structure and control, but when the bench-heavy second phases introduce newer combinations, the tempo and discipline wobble. With squad depth a deliberate selection priority right now, Davids is framing the inconsistency as expected friction in a development process rather than a structural flaw — but the coaching group is clearly determined to smooth it out before the tournament progresses.