Displaying the patience of a kindly schoolmaster for an errant pupil, South African coach Nick Mallett explained another gallant Irish failure with a welcome lack of cloying sentiment.
The honesty and clarity with which he spoke and the accuracy of his observations bestowed on the post-match press conference anything but the traditional superficial patter that is offered up on most of these occasions.
It is little wonder that Mallett, who has guided the world champions through 16 of their record-equalling 17 Test victories in succession, is uniformly regarded as an outstanding coach, motivator and analyst.
His choice of words in answering a query about whether Ireland had improved since the two Tests during the summer proved revealing. "They keep on churning out the same sort of performance - passionate, aggressive and in your face. They make it difficult for you to play.
"There are no weaknesses in the Irish game because the type of rugby they play, they play it very well: Put you under pressure, take you on in the forwards and turn you around with high kicks. In being polite about this and not trying to insult anyone, I don't think they are as talented out wide as we are, so they avoid doing it.
"They only passed the ball across the back line once and on that occasion they were tackled behind the gain line. I don't think they have the players, athletes to exploit broken play situations that that South Africa has.
"Everything else is just as good - scrums, lineouts, loose play and their commitment in terms of defence. But when you think of the opportunities they had in our 22 and didn't take. . . if you transpose that and say that South Africa had the same amount, we would have scored more tries.
"That is because we have people who are capable of exploiting those situations, individually they are just better with the ball in hand. That has been the difference on this tour. We have created a couple of opportunities and taken them while the opposition, who have had more ball, have failed to do so."
Mallett acknowledged that his side were fortunate to be leading at the interval. "We were very lucky to be leading 7-6. Rassie (Johan Erasmus) scored an outstanding try and we had one other good opportunity close to half-time, but apart from that Ireland dominated the penalty count and kept us pinned inside our own half.
"I knew that once the game broke up a bit we had the players to create try-scoring opportunities. For a brief window, for 15-20 minutes in the second half we got a bit of fluidity into the game and then we were very dangerous. But you have got to give them credit. They tackled very well, put us under a lot of pressure and we were forced to defend for long spells."
One South African inquisitor demanded to know whether the team had any problems with Keith Wood. Mallett was quick to scotch any rumours of ill-feeling. "We have got no problem, we have always admired Keith Wood. He's a fantastic rugby player. If he'd like to have a drink with us, then we would love to have a drink with him."
It was then that thoughts turned towards England, records and Grand Slams. Both Mallett and captain Gary Teichmann confirmed that the priority for the players had been concentrating on individual matches not thinking about breaking the New Zealand mark of 17 straight victories.
They added that England would be a tough proposition but that the team had risen to difficult hurdles in the past. Mallet concluded: "The Grand Slam would be a nice way to finish the year." Few would begrudge them that honour.
