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Cape Town - Springbok captain Fourie du Preez says their Rugby World Cup semi-final loss to the All Blacks is a bitter pill to swallow.
As it happened: Boks v All Blacks
The Boks lost an epic encounter against their old rivals 20-18 at Twickenham on Saturday.
“We're disappointed. It's very tough to take. Just two points. But credit to both teams,” Du Preez said in the post-match interview.
"They kept the pressure on us. We struggled to get out of our own half.”
The Boks led 12-7 at half-time and appeared to have the ascendancy with All Black loose forward Jerome Kaino sin-binned.
"Unfortunately we couldn't capitalise, but credit to the All Blacks, they played well,” said Du Preez.
Bok coach Heyneke Meyer had no complaints: "Well done, you deserve it," he said he had told All Black coach Steve Hansen. "There are no words, our discipline was not good enough in the second half."
The All Blacks will now face the winner of Sunday’s Australia v Argentina semi-final, while South Africa will tackle the loser in the bronze medal match.
Scorers:
South Africa:
Penalties: Handre Pollard (5), Pat Lambie
New Zealand:
Tries: Jerome Kaino, Beauden Barrett
Conversions: Dan Carter (2)
Drop goal: Carter
Penalty: Carter
