South Africa's record-breaking 52-16 defeat by New Zealand in the Tri-Nations championship was greeted with dismay by the country's Sunday newspapers.

South Africa crashed back down to earth after last week's victory over Australia when they were run ragged by the All Blacks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. It was the highest score conceded by the Springboks at home and the third-highest anywhere.

"Yes, it's time to panic," said the English-language Sunday Times, adding the defeat was "the rugby equivalent of a car wreck".

"The tasteless triumphalism of last week when coach Rudolf Straeuli lashed out at the media for not giving his team a chance against Australia was predictably replaced by tortured excuses and pleas for patience. It wasn't so much boys against men as it was the blind school against the neighbourhood jocks."

The Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Rapport called the defeat the "slaughter of Loftus" but said, although it was "a painful setback", the Springboks would not lie down. The Rapport carried the opinions of several former South Africa players.

Dawie Snyman, a Springbok full back in the 1970s and a man who coached Western Province to five Currie Cup titles in the 1980s, said: "I hope the Springbok coaches now know who the passengers in the side are." Michael du Plessis, Willie Meyer, Gary Teichmann and Rob Louw all said the forwards were acceptable but the back line was "useless" and "hopeless".

Teichmann, who captained the Springboks to a record-equalling 17 consecutive Test wins, added: "We can forget about the World Cup based on the way we played here. A lot of work lies ahead."