They say a week in sport is a long time and that theory will be tested at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha when the Springboks meet Italy in the second Test.
Last Saturday the Boks served up a tepid second half, while Italy played some inspired rugby. Will the Boks show a more ruthless and clinical streak for 80 minutes this week, and will Italy deliver another passionate performance to rattle the world champions?
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has made wholesale changes from the team that won 42-24 at Loftus, but lost the second half 21-14 after leading 28-3 at the break.
The changes were always expected Internally Erasmus named the teams for the first and second Italian Tests well in advance of last weeks Loftus set-to.
But some of the performances, by Bomb Squad members in particular, forced a rethink this week. Erasmus admitted that some players who were originally set to play in Gqeberha were omitted because of events in Pretoria.
He didnt name names, but looking at the bench from last week and who is missing for the second Test, we can all draw our own conclusions.