Boks rue lost chance to be world's top team

JOHANNESBURG - The Springboks wasted their chance to become top rugby nation last Saturday and should be more cut-throat, captain John Smit says.

South Africa lost 31-27 to New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday, when victory would have given them back-to-back titles and the No 1 spot in the International Rugby Board's rankings.

South Africa must now rely on an injury-hit Australian team to beat New Zealand in the final Tri-nations game in Auckland on Saturday for them to retain their title.

"We built ourselves an opportunity of going to number one in the world, but we wasted that opportunity on Saturday," Smit said after the squad returned home.

He said the narrow defeat in Dunedin, after they had led 27-24 going into the final four minutes, had been reminiscent of South Africa's last-minute defeat by the All Blacks in the 2004 Tri-nations test in Christchurch.

"The loss was way too similar to Christchurch in that we let ourselves down in key areas of composure. We were not cut-throat enough once we were ahead and maybe should have been more aggressive.

"We need to use the ball better and put the opposition under more pressure when we're in front," Smit said.

"But this team has undergone a huge improvement which I'm incredibly proud of and there's a hell of a lot more to come from them."

Coach Jake White said: "It shows how difficult this competition is. Last year we got 11 points and won, this year we've got 13 and we're not guaranteed the title. You've got the three best sides in the world and you have to get it right every Saturday.

"The players have learnt from the loss how close they are to being No 1 in the world, but also that it requires a bit extra after going from No 6 to No 2. But this is a special group of players and, without a doubt, it's the right 30 players and we can build on them," White said.

- REUTERS