Burger blames himself for crucial try
Burger carried the ball deep inside in own 22 in the 51st minute of the game before All Blacks' flyhalf Dan Carter ripped the ball from his grasp. The turnover eventually resulted in a try for replacement Beauden Barrett. Springbok wing Bryan Habana also got yellow carded for hitting the ball from Aaron Smith's grasp in the build up to the score.
Barrett's try gave the All Blacks the lead in a crucial period of the match.
Burger refused to blame other aspects of the game like the set piece for his team's defeat and instead focussed on the crucial turnover.
"The line-outs that we lost did not help and it created pressure and made us defend a little bit more," said Burger.
"But if you look at the game there is so many variables. The biggest was probably me losing the ball in our own 22 and they scored seven points.
"It was probably the turning point of the match. So it was not only line-outs, but my mistake as well."
Despite the error, Burger acknowledged that the All Blacks were probably the better team on the day.
"It was always going to be tough. New Zealand played reasonably well kicking the ball behind us. Our maul was working reasonably well – sometimes you get rewarded for it sometimes you don't.
"They put us under quite a bit of pressure, especially at ruck time. We created opportunities, but unfortunately we came two points short .
"It is a little be difficult to chat now because we gave a big effort. We would have liked to go a bit further in this competition. Unfortunately for us the All Blacks were just a little bit better," he added.
South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer said his team could not adapt to the wet conditions in the second half.
"In the second half I don't think we adapted well enough in the rainy conditions and we made a few mistakes and I always said it would come down to discipline. Although we gave everything we just did not create enough pressure in their half to get the points," said Meyer.
"I am very proud. I don't think people gave us any chance. We have grown as a team and with great leadership and the youngsters really matured. I am very proud of the guys, but only a win is good enough for South Africa. It wasn't good enough and it will never be good enough.
"They [All Blacks] are a quality side and they handled the pressure better than us. We had our chances today and we should have taken it and we should have been in the Final. I am proud, but definitely not happy and will never settle for second best."
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