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This will haunt me for a long time - Smit
Springbok captain John Smit looked a downtrodden figure as he contemplated missing the tackle that gave the All Blacks a 29-22 victory at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday night.
Smit’s 100th test match was a massive milestone but a late rally by the All Blacks saw them come back at the death and win the match, breaking more than 90 000 hearts.
While for long periods it seemed as if the Boks would give him the perfect present, the Bok captain was already walking from half-time and looked as if he was struggling with the pace.
Then, after the All Blacks drew level with two minutes to go, it was Smit whose heartbreak was completed when he slipped the tackle of Ma’a Nonu, who sent Israel Dagg away for the try.
“I can’t think I have ever been more disappointed to lose a game like that,” an emotional Smit told reporters after the game.
“To miss the tackle that cost us the game in my 100th test is bad. This is going to hurt me for a very long time.
“We missed a few tackles in our own 22 in those last minutes. We planned to get the ball back but conceded a turnover and when I missed the tackle it was game over.”
OUT OF PUFF
Smit denied the team had “run out of puff” as Henry put it.
“I don’t think we ran out of steam, but the accuracy of doing the things wasn’t the same as in the first half.”
Coach Peter de Villiers was singing a different tune and despite the loss was still positive.
“John is taking this way too personally. What I saw today, we can beat any team on any given day. We can dictate territory and possession and for the best part of the day we did it today.
“In the second half we went a bit out of our structure and became a lot more defensive and didn’t see the ball much.”
De Villiers congratulated the All Blacks on their victory.
“Well done to them. They must be over the moon and are playing great rugby. It is very entertaining and we hope they go from strength to strength. In our dressing room it is like a funeral and the guys are taking it hard.
“This is a hell of a step up from the Australia and the guys can’t handle the fact we went down. We will remember that winning is a habit, and losing is also.”
The Boks will regroup on Monday where they will need to find answers before facing Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
