Graham Henry admitted New Zealand squandered a golden opportunity after going down 28-19 to South Africa
All Blacks coach rues a chance missed in Bloemfontein
New Zealand head coach Graham Henry admitted his side squandered a golden opportunity after going down 28-19 to South Africa in the Tri-Nations clash at Vodacom Park.
The All Blacks fought back from 17-3 to get within a single score before a wayward pass from substitute scrum-half Piri Weepu gifted the Springboks a match-clinching try.
Bok centre Jaque Fourie pounced on the confusion in the New Zealand defence and effectively ended the game with nine minutes remaining.
Speaking after the match, Henry said: "We thought we might have a bit of a show halfway through the second half but we just made too many errors during the game.
Error-ridden
"We didn't execute well enough to win the game so congratulations to South Africa.
"We played some rugby which was pretty good and had an opportunity to win the game at one stage, but we didn't take those opportunities and we made some errors at crucial times that cost us the game."
The mistake which led to Fourie's try was just one of several in an error-ridden performance from the visitors, who conceded eight penalties in the first half alone.
Only another accurate kicking display from Stephen Donald and a superb Conrad Smith score at the start of the second half kept the All Blacks in the hunt.
However, Kiwi skipper Richie McCaw admitted his side made far too many mistakes, and ultimately paid the price.
"It felt like we were definitely in the contest," he said.
Difficult
"Before that try (to Fourie) we were right in the contest and we had them at the right end of the field and were applying some pressure. We made mistakes that let them off the hook.
"We played a bit too much rugby at times in our own quarter. It was the simple stuff that let us down and perhaps that comes from the pressure they were putting on in defence.
"But they are the things you can't afford to do in Tests."
South Africa captain John Smit had some sympathy for the visitors who had less than seven days to prepare after a bruising win against Australia.
"It's difficult to turn around from one week to the other and play at altitude," he admitted.
"It's a great start by the Springboks and hopefully we can take it further."
