All Blacks coach Graham Henry was gracious in defeat after his side went down 28-19 to the Springboks in a Tri-Nations Test in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
"I first of all want to congratulate South Africa on their victory. They were the better team and deserved to win," he said at the media conference shortly after the match. Although Henry thought there were many positives for his side and that they at times played some good rugby "the Springboks played better than us." He added, "There are no excuses. We have no complaints about the altitude or the turnaround time between last week's Test (against the Wallabies) and today's.
"This is a very good Springbok side. They deserve to be number one in the world," he said -- but pointed out that he didn't know how the ratings worked and that it could easily change again if his side won the Test in Durban next weekend.
"We needed more composure and discipline and should've created more opportunities. A side can't afford to make errors when you have the ball. We lost the battle, but not the war," Henry said. His captain Richie McCaw said he felt the All Blacks were getting on top at one stage in the second half, "but we were forced into mistakes. There are things you just cannot afford to do in Test matches," he said about the many turnovers in the tackle and handling errors.
McCaw was disappointed with the discipline, but was convinced that his side were up there with the physicality of the Springboks. The home side's head coach Peter de Villiers congratulated his side on a good win, and said that the Springboks were an organised side, disciplined and patient.
"Hats off to the tight five. I think the positive approach helped us, we knew we had to create our own chances," De Villiers said.
Springbok captain John Smit said the Boks wanted to keep the ball in hand in the first 10 minutes but that it didn't materialise in a slow Springbok start to the match. However, he was happy that they didn't give many opportunities to the All Blacks in the last half hour. "It was a great start for South Africa," he said, "hopefully we can take it further.
"It's a great Test to win," Smit said, and was especially pleased that the Springboks had denied the All Blacks a bonus point which could have a bearing on the outcome of the competition later on.
"The All Blacks got their intensity up after the halftime," Smit said, but pointed out that the turnaround from the Test against the Wallabies just a week ago would not have been easy for the All Blacks to overcome.
"It's difficult to turn around from one week to the other and play at altitude," Smit said.
Man of the Match Heinrich Brussow said he was pleased to have done well and to have beaten the world's number one side on his home field in Bloemfontein with his family in the stands. Denied a place in the original squad for the British and Irish Lions series, he was roped in to fill in for Schalk Burger who was injured for the first test and suspended for the third. Brussow came on as a replacement in the second test, and was a star for the Boks and a thorn in the Lions' flesh.
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen admitted afterwards that Brussow had played very well and was especially good in the tackle area.
"He is a phenomenal find (at this level) and is making a big difference for us and also making it very difficult for the opposition," Smit added to the accolades of the 23-year-old who was playing in only his fifth Test.
From SARUGBY.com
The All Blacks are awesome sportsmen. Also saw an interview with Conrad Smith after the game, really nice guys. I thought it was a BRILLIANT game. My throat is hoarse and I'm still happy and cheerful. I actually dreamed about the game Friday night. (Os du Randt punched a guy and Butch James was playing...)
