Rugby: Springboks see only 'millimetres' between teams

Heyneke Meyer is optimistic about the Springboks' chances. Photo / Getty Images

Heyneke Meyer insists his team are capable of beating anyone in the game and that only millimetres separate the three big Southern Hemisphere powers - South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

The Boks went down late in the game against New Zealand on Sunday after dominating much of the game at Ellis Park. It was a similar scenario last week in Brisbane when Wallaby centre Tevita Kuridrani scored after fulltime.

On that occasion, Kuridrani's touchdown just made it over the line, while on Sunday the Boks were denied a try by the TMO when it was adjudged Lood de Jager had failed to plant the ball in the desired area.

"It's been millimetres in both games. It went against us in Australia, and it went against us today," said Meyer after Sunday's 20-27 defeat.

"These three teams are so close now. Last week it was two millimetres [when Kuridrani scored] ... I really thought it would go our way this time when I thought Lood scored, but the referee is always right.

"It could have been a game-changing try, because after that we won a penalty and kicked it; we could have had a 10-point lead.

"We had other chances as well, but didn't take them. It's frustrating because our plan worked well, we were brilliant at the breakdowns [with Heinrich Brussow and Francois Louw dominating on the ground] and we played some positive rugby."

Injuries at crucial times though - as was the case in Brisbane - set the Boks back. On this occasion Jannie du Plessis, Vincent Koch, De Jager and Louw suffered misfortune and had to leave the field just when the Boks looked to be taking control.

With both specialist tighthead props off the field referee Jerome Garces had no option but to call for uncontested scrums. "Trevor Nyakane has played on both sides, but he was not listed as a tighthead. The law's there to protect the players and we abide by that."

The Boks lost plenty of momentum, and power in the set-piece after the withdrawal of Du Plessis and Koch, and it allowed the All Blacks to get back into the game and eventually seal their comeback with Richie McCaw's late try.

Meyer though, while disappointed, looked on the bright side.

"We played some great rugby and have now scored some great tries in our last two games. We know we can beat anyone. The confidence is there and there's plenty of self-belief in the players.

"We've come so close in two games ... we're millimetres away. We've had to play with a lot of youngsters who've done brilliantly and I'll take a lot of heart from the fact that up to 10 players are set to return from injury, and they'll be fresh and fit.

"We've only been together again for three weeks now and after the Super Rugby competition no one gave us a chance. We've made big strides in this time and have another four to five weeks together before the World Cup and we'll just get better.

"With the youngsters pushing hard, no one is guaranteed a position in the team, so I know we'll have the best 31 at the World Cup, and a good few others who'll stay behind who we'll be able to call on at any stage."

- Independent Media, South Africa