All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick has explained how the Springboks undermined a key attacking ploy of theirs during the clash on the Gold Coast.

The Boks won the match 31-29 thanks in part to their ability to nullify New Zealand’s attempts to score tries off attacking set pieces.

“Some of our technique was pretty average, and our attitude, there,” Retallick admitted ahead of the All Blacks’ Test against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

“We probably went away from a little bit of focus at training and stuff, leading into those weeks. Not using that as an excuse. We have put some real work into it in the last couple of weeks.”

Retallick said South Africa’s jumpers at the back of the lineout had put the All Blacks under pressure, so when they threw to the front, it was easier for the Boks to defend the maul and shunt it into touch.

“There’s definitely some things we have looked at there, in how to get better ball and attack further away from the sidelines,” he added.

“It’s something that I thought was working pretty well against Australia and Argentina, and we seemed to lose a little bit of edge around that against South Africa. It’s something we have touched on and are looking to get right over the next couple of weeks.”