Cape Town - South African scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who plays his club rugby in Japan, described Saturday's 34-32 loss to Japan as the low point of his career.
As it happened: Japan win it at the death
The former Bulls No. 9 says the Springboks had been "outsmarted" by their opponents in Brighton.
"I've been playing there (Japan) for four years, so I knew what was coming. I tried to let the guys know during the week that they are a proper nation.
"They were probably just better prepared than us, they had a lot of focus areas where they targeted us. They just outsmarted us."
The Springboks next Pool B game is on Saturday when they take on Samoa at Villa Park in Birmingham.
The match kicks off at 17:45.
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