Defiant Boks 'can still win' World Cup, says coach Nienaber

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber struck a defiant note after Saturday's nerve-jangling 13-8 defeat to Ireland, claiming the defending champions can still win the Rugby World Cup.

South Africa lost their opening pool match to New Zealand in 2019 before going on to lift the Webb Ellis trophy and Nienaber believes the Boks can do it again.

Visit News24's Rugby World Cup 2023 zone for fixtures, pools, profiles, top stories

"In 2019 did you think we could win?" he said at the post-match press conference at the Stade de France.

"We are in this competition to win, everyone is here to win. We played against the number one team in the world and we lost by five points.

"We had a chance in 79th minute to win but we didn't take it. The bottom line is Ireland were better but the margin is very small.

"We must work at things that didn't work and if we can fix them and have a bit of luck we can win the World Cup."

READ | Rob Houwing's Springbok ratings

The match, which saw tries from Mack Hansen for Ireland and Cheslin Kolbe for South Africa, arguably hinged on the lack of a reliable goalkicker in the Springbok ranks.

Flyhalf Manie Libbok kicked a first half penalty but missed a penalty and conversion in the second half. Faf de Klerk also failed with two penalties, one of which hit the post.

Nienaber, however, felt the game was lost in other departments.

"We missed a couple of points off the tee but that's not the only reason (South Africa lost). We had two good opportunities in the first half we didn't take," he said.

"In the first half we lost the ball under the posts and at the end we had a great opportunity with the maul."

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was equally adamant that the wayward kicking wasn't the deciding factor in such a