World champions South Africa were booed off the field on Saturday after losing 27-15 to Australia in their Tri-Nations Test.
The loss was the world champions’ fourth in five Tri-nations matches and ensured they are out of contention for the title with two rounds remaining.
Springbok captain Victor Matfield told a news conference the crowd reaction was understandable after his side made too many mistakes.
“The booing was perfectly understandable because we are the world champions and we cannot afford to lose two in a row. It’s unacceptable to play like that,” Matfield said.
“It was all about execution because the chances were there but we cannot make mistakes like we did today, it’s unacceptable for any international player. It was not good enough and unfortunately those mistakes killed us,” Matfield said.
News 24 reports that coach Peter de Villiers asked the South Africa fans to be patient.
‘Every right to be unhappy’
“It’s not nice being booed, but the crowd is unhappy, rightfully so, they have every right to be unhappy,” he said.
“They want to back a winning side, but we never go out there to lose on purpose and it’s a new playing style I’m trying to get out there. Rome wasn’t built in a day and I ask the people to be patient, to give us more time,” De Villiers said.
Australian coach Robbie Deans praised his players for putting to an end an eight-year losing streak in South Africa.
“You’ve got to be happy with that. The performance was by no means error-free, but it was never going to be with South Africa such a desperate team. But the intensity was there, the boys got up and did what had to be done, the hard way. They gutsed it out, it was not straightforward, and I’m very happy with the composure,” Deans said.
Deans said the amount of time the Wallabies invested in physical preparation for the match had paid off.
“The boys got up and met the physicality of the Springboks, they did huge work and it was a good effort,” he said.
Deans said centre Berrick Barnes and lock Dan Vickerman were unlikely to play in the return fixture in Johannesburg next week due to shoulder injuries.
“We’ve done a couple of shoulders, Berrick Barnes and Dan Vickerman, and that’s likely to impact on next week. They’re unlikely to be available and we’ll definitely contemplate bringing someone over,” Deans said.
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Ask anybody who has ever tried to host a music concert in Durban or tried to sell out a rugby match in Durban and they will tell you that the Durbanites are very apathetic.
For them to have bothered to boo the Boks must be an indication of how pissed off they were.
Next week in Jhb is going to be MUCH worse if they lose again. That is if the stadium is full of course
The booing was perfectly understandable because we are the world champions and we cannot afford to lose two in a row. It’s unacceptable to play like that,” Matfield said
It’s also unacceptable as the supposed Captain of the side to fool yourself into believing it is two in a row when it is actually THREE in a row.
I wonder who we’ll play at tighthead
Must say was surprised by the booing. But it was deserved, and for the Durds beach bums to pipe up with a chorus of booing shows how kak the Boks were.
From the Times
The Boks have lost four of their five Tri-Nations matches, which so tested Durban’s paying public that they booed the coach and his captain, Victor Matfield, when they gave post-match interviews.
Ahhhh, so it wasn’t the Boks that were Booed it was Matfield and PdV.
there was booing during the last quarter of the game as well
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Was it when Matfield had the ball? 😉 😆 Or were they practicing for the post match interviews? 😳
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : HAHAHAHAH…classsic KSA.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : They got booed off the field when the whistle went.
sick.sick as a dog.
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 10) : LOL. Big night was it?? 😆
so very big
Claytie
How was the weekend???
