South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus said he will spend the coming week reflecting on his team’s performance after the Springboks suffered a 21-19 defeat against France.
The loss, which marked only the second time South Africa has fallen to the French in 16 years, ended the team’s unbeaten run in the Nations Championship.
The result likely cost the Springboks a place in the final and their No. 1 world ranking, according to Associated Press reporting.
Erasmus took full responsibility for the tactical errors that occurred during the match.
“We didn’t play well and I’m not going to make excuses,” Erasmus said.
He noted that the coaching staff failed to find solutions when the French forced the team into making mistakes.
“It’s a problem that concerns the staff, not the players,” the coach added.
During the match, Erasmus believed the team relied too heavily on scrums instead of utilizing lineouts in the corners.
“We should not systematically wait for the referee to award us penalties,” he explained.
A notable tactical decision involved a last-minute change to the front row, with reserves replacing starters shortly before kickoff.
Erasmus admitted the decision remained uncertain until the captain’s run held the previous afternoon.
The Springboks trailed at halftime for the second time this year and never held the lead throughout the contest.
“The French won it on the gong,” Erasmus remarked regarding the intensity of the battle.
The team is scheduled to travel to Ireland next weekend for their upcoming fixture.
The final standings in the northern hemisphere pool will be determined Saturday following the match between New Zealand and Wales.
The Springboks face a period of uncertainty regarding their ranking status as they prepare for the playoffs.
Erasmus stated he intends to think about the loss all night and throughout the coming week.