Jon Cardinelli's case is straightforward: the rotation-heavy mid-year programme was always going to produce uneven performances, and the 42-28 win over Scotland — featuring 10 changes and 17 players with fewer than 20 caps — should be judged accordingly. The defensive numbers were poor (46 missed tackles, 11 linebreaks conceded), but Scotland's 4-from-11 finishing rate and the Boks' second-half problem-solving tell a more balanced story. The more important takeaway, Cardinelli argues, is what two players proved during the process. De Villiers has moved beyond the fetcher label, showing up as a top ball-carrier at Loftus and cementing his claim as Kwagga Smith's Bomb Squad replacement. Horn, deployed in a novel 10-12 combination alongside Pollard late in the game, showed the speed, decision-making and kicking range that make him a genuine utility asset — and the one who unlocks a six-two bench split. Cardinelli expects both to feature in the All Blacks series, with the Argentina Test on August 8 potentially serving as a final audition before the real thing begins on August 22.