Red-faced Coetzee admits embarrassment after the All Blacks wipe the floor with the Springboks

"Embarrassed" was the only way Springbok coach Allister Coetzee could describe his side's drubbing by the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.

Rightfully so‚ it was not a pretty sight as the hapless Boks slumped to a 15-57 defeat to a New Zealand outfit that has already been crowned as this year's undisputed Rugby Championship kings.

The Boks put up a somewhat brave fight in patches during the game‚ only trailing the visiting side 9-12 halfway through the game.

In the second half the wheels came off the Springbok bus as the All Blacks stepped up a few gears and displayed the class that has put them miles ahead of other rugby nations‚ justifying why they are the reigning world champions.

After the Kiwis scored a mammoth seven of their total nine tries in the second half‚ with the Boks failing to score a single five-pointer in the entire 80 minutes‚ the South Africans were left red-faced as they suffered their heaviest defeat on home soil.

"On and off the field‚ they are just in a better class‚ they are world class‚" Coetzee conceded after the game.

"We are definitely hurting‚ almost to the extent that we are actually embarrassed about the last 20 minutes [of play]."

The criticism of the Bok side is set to escalate following the weekend's humiliating defeat at King's Park.

"One can understand that‚" Coetzee said about the negative perception South Africans could have about the national rugby side.

"Sometimes effort could be your best‚ but it is not good enough. I don't think the way we prepared‚ planned and then ended the match was not to end it like this.

"Again the players and management team will have to take a hard look at themselves. It's only us who can turn it around. I don't even want to say people must be patient out there."

While admitting that he may have to take a hard look at his playing personnel‚ the coach also hinted at a lack of players in the country who could do a better job.

Coetzee now hopes that his charges can turn things around in their end-year tour to the United Kingdom and Italy.

The coach also admitted that the defeat signalled his side's regression.

"I will have to be patient with the players. There are players out there that can strengthen this squad‚ certainly we can have a look at that. But I can guarantee you that there aren't many out there‚" Coetzee said.

"We will learn from this Championship‚ focus on the end-year tour and try to turn it around.

"This game has taken us two steps backwards‚ to be honest. The end-year tour will determine whether we move forward." - TMG Digital

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.