South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber defends approach in Rugby Championship loss to New Zealand

SOUTH Africa coach Jacques Nienaber defended his team’s approach against New Zealand as they slipped to a third consecutive Rugby Championship defeat.

The 19-17 loss in Townsville, which came courtesy of a late Jordie Barrett penalty, followed on the heels of back-to-back reversals against Australia but the narrow nature of the loss left Nienaber feeling vindicated.

“I thought the game plan worked,” he said. “I thought we had opportunities, I thought they had opportunities.”

“It probably came down to the wire. A call here, a bounce of the ball there. Sometimes it goes for you and sometimes it goes against you.”

“(Against the) British and Irish Lions we won with a kick like this, Australia we lost, New Zealand we lost, so I think it’s swings and roundabouts.”

The Springboks went into the game needing a bonus-point win to keep their slim hopes of claiming the Rugby Championship alive against