'Forwards let us down' says Smit
Boks must learn this French lesson
Springbok captain John Smit feels the reason why his team can't score tries and has to rely on penalties to win or stay in games, is not because of poor backline play. It is simply the forwards that are not doing their work.
Speaking after his team's 36-26 (four tries to one) loss to France at Newlands on Saturday, Smit said that his team was simply outplayed by a better French side.
"We had a poor start, with a bad bounce that resulted in a French try," he said of Cédric Heymans' third-minute score.
"The French played really well and we were simply outplayed.
"We have to learn from this defeat and come back a better team," a bitterly disappointed Smit said.
But he said that the French forwards laid the foundation for the their win, especially in the scrums, where South Africa were constantly on the back foot.
"They put us under a lot of pressure there [the scrums]. We wanted to dominate up front, but they were just too good today."
He again defended the fact that the Boks had to rely on penalties to stay in the game (seven Percy Montgomery penalties) and the fact that the Boks have now scored just six tries in four matches this year.
The question of a lack of creativity among the backs also popped up.
But Smit said that is not where the problem is.
"We want to score tries and play attractive rugby," an agitated Smit said.
"But the forwards must take more of the blame for this. We [the forwards] are not setting the platform for the backs, not giving them the quality of possession they need," he added.
