Sunday 20 September 2015 12:12, UK
Jean de Villiers admits every South Africa player 'must take responsibility' following their shock defeat by Japan on the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup.
In what was possibly the biggest shock in rugby union history, Karne Hesketh scored a last-gasp try as Japan beat the two-time world champions 34-32 at the Brighton Community Stadium.
And De Villiers, skipper of the Springboks, said: "The senior players have a massive role to play. Each player must now step up and make himself counted.
"It is a World Cup and we need to focus on things we believe we are strong at, and it's up to the senior players now to lift the group and set the tone for the work we need to do.
We, the players, were on the field. The coaching staff can't do anything on the field, so we are responsible.
"Each player let himself down. It was a below-par performance from us and is not acceptable with the standards we set ourselves.
"I don't want to take anything away from Japan's victory but we have to take ownership of this performance and make ourselves accountable.
"We, the players, were on the field. The coaching staff can't do anything on the field, so we are responsible.
"We gave away far too many penalties and that kept Japan in the game. We never had a clear gap of seven points or more over them and could never get away from them.
"They just managed to hang on and in the end overtook us."
South Africa's next match is against Samoa at Villa Park on Saturday while Japan face Scotland in Gloucester this Wednesday.
