Kolisi admits 'missed opportunity' to twist All Black knife as Aussies loom

Siya Kolisi admitted that the Springboks missed an opportunity to stick the boot into their beleaguered rivals after losing to the All Blacks 35-23 at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The Springboks could have made it two in two to start the Rugby Championship, but didn't start or finish the game well. 

Ian Foster's men travelled to SA on the back of a first series home defeat to Ireland, having sacked two backroom coaches, including former Sharks coach John Plumtree, and with the axe hanging dangerously above their head coach.

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The defeat of the All Blacks in Mbombela a week earlier was so comprehensive that people began to believe that they'd see a year like 2009 when the South Africans had total dominance over New Zealand.

However, the All Blacks could use the result in which they scored four tries to prop themselves back up to form.

"Of course, we would have loved to gain momentum but we can't keep our heads down for long because there're still four more games to go," said Kolisi, looking forward to the rest of the Rugby Championship.

"But yes, we did miss an opportunity. But they played really well and they controlled the game.

"We fought back in the second half but in one moment, we slipped up and fell asleep during a quick tap and that's what they can do.

"We'll see what squad is going [to Australia] next week and we have to focus on Australia now."

The Springboks next face Australia in Adelaide on 27 August, a team that humiliated them in two losses in last year's bubble championship held in Oz last year.

Back then, the Boks were cock-a-hoop after slaying the British & Irish Lions 2-1 and beating Argentina twice at home.

The Wallabies,