World Cup and Tri-Nations champions South Africa deserved to lose against Six Nations champions Ireland on Saturday because they weren’t clinical enough, admitted their captain John Smit.
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South Africa turned round at the break 10-6 up thanks to the only try of the match through Ireland’s least favourite Springbok Schalk Burger – who was banned during the British and Irish Lions test series in June after gouging Irish wing Luke Fitzgerald in the second Test.
But three missed penalties by Morné Steyn cost them dearly.
Smit, who belied his reputation for being a sporting captain by leading his side off without the traditional applauding off of the Irish, highlighted Steyn’s misses as being pivotal to the match’s outcome.
“Missing penalties was crucial. Two in the first-half near the break and then one afterwards, cost us dearly,” said a glum looking Smit.
“Those would have kept the scoreboard ticking over and it would have made it difficult for the Irish to come back at us as they did eventually”
However, Smit, who had been returned to his preferred position of hooker from prop, refused to use fatigue as an excuse after almost a year long season which has seen the Springboks end their year on a low note after losing four of their five northern hemisphere matches including two against English Premiership teams.
“Each season is the same and the Irish deserved their victory,” said Smit.
South African coach Peter de Villiers concurred with his skipper.
“We always knew it would be a tough tour to finish our year with,” said de Villiers, who despite large amounts of scepticism has guided the South Africans to the Lions series win and the Tri-Nations title since taking over from World Cup winning coach Jake White.
“Our two wings for instance have played 500 minutes more rugby this year than they should have done.
“However, at the end of the day we have no excuses.”
De Villiers, who was hardly helped by a heap of injuries during the week and even had to replace lock Bakkies Botha on the morning of the match and put a scrumhalf onto the replacements bench instead of another lock, conceded that the tour had been useful from the point of view of seeing whether the younger less experienced players could start challenging for places.
“The younger guys have to step up to the plate and quite clearly some did and some didn’t,” said de Villiers.
“I guess I could have rested players for the tour but it was vital to not only bring the first team to Europe and also younger players. If I had just brought a second string team then the results would have been far worse.”
