Cape Town - The general feeling is that 2018 was South African rugby's best year in some time.

Following two disappointing years for the Springboks under former coach Allister Coetzee that yielded some shocking results, Rassie Erasmus got things back on track this year.

Or did he?

The Boks beat England in a three-match series in June, beat the All Blacks away from home for the first time since 2009 and, along the way, they provided enough encouragement to suggest that they will be in good shape for the World Cup in Japan next year.

Saturday's 20-11 loss to Wales in Cardiff, though, was about as poor as the Boks have been all year at a time when they should be hitting their straps.

There are just four Test matches remaining for the Boks before they take on the All Blacks in Yokohama on September 21.

That all said, we thought it would be a good idea to compare Erasmus' first year in charge as Springbok coach to Coetzee's two years in charge to see if, indeed, there has been significant improvement.

Total Tests

Erasmus 2018: 14

Coetzee 2017: 13

Coetzee 2016: 12

Total wins

Erasmus 2018: 7

Coetzee 2017: 7

Coetzee 2016: 4

Win percentage

Erasmus 2018: 50%

Coetzee 2017: 53.8%

Coetzee 2016: 33.3%

Total tries

Erasmus 2018: 37

Coetzee 2017: 39

Coetzee 2016: 20

Average tries per game

Erasmus 2018: 2.64

Coetzee 2017: 3

Coetzee 2016: 1.6

Points conceded

Erasmus 2018: 330

Coetzee 2017: 296

Coetzee 2016: 329

Average points conceded per game

Erasmus 2018: 23.57

Coetzee 2017: 22.7

Coetzee 2016: 27.4

Rugby Championship finish

Erasmus 2018: 2nd

Coetzee 2017: 3rd

Coetzee 2016: 3rd

End of year tour

Erasmus 2018: 2/4

Coetzee 2017: 2/4

Coetzee 2016: 0/3

Win percentage at home

Erasmus 2018: 66.6%

Coetzee 2017: 66.6%

Coetzee 2016: 66.6%

Win percentage away

Erasmus 2018: 37.5%

Coetzee 2017: 42.8%

Coetzee 2016: 0%