What an incredible, brutal, unforgiving game. We just gave too many penalties away at the breakdown. We knew it was going to be fierce but we weren’t rolling away, and we had hands on in the ruck: out of the 12 penalties, nine were given at the breakdown, and you just can’t do that.
There were so many breakdowns because both teams are really one out-runner sides, they are not expansive teams that want to play the ball wide. Referee Wayne Barnes does favour the attacking team, and you know that, so you can’t blame him.
Wales had to soak up so much pressure in the second half – it was 13-12 at half-time – and it was a fairly even game. We weren’t able to play in any territory, and because we didn’t get any ball in our hands for about 20 minutes we had to soak up so many tackles that it takes it out of your legs.
That try was heartbreaking for the team, particularly as they all played so well. Sam Warburton was again incredible: he played better and better, and remains vital to Wales, and the reason he has done so is because he hasn’t been injured and has had a run of games. It is such a shame Wales couldn’t go on; what they will take from this is huge heart and huge self-belief. The resolve they have shown, with all the injuries they have had; to push South Africa all the way is remarkable.
In any game, however, you get three or four clear cut opportunities. There was one in the first few minutes, but the ball came to Gethin Jenkins, a prop, who threw it into the stand. We had an overlap, but we couldn’t get the ball wide quickly enough, and you can’t help but conclude that sometimes the best teams – the Kiwis, the Aussies –would have finished that off.
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When you think of the 10 players we have lost, all of them would have been involved on Saturday and, if not starting, then they would have appeared from the bench. Your big players – big-game players – like Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny and Scott Williams need to be fit.
We missed someone like Leigh, or Liam Williams, at 15. It was a huge ask for Gareth Anscombe, and we lost the aerial battle in the first half.
Yet for Dan Biggar, no praise is high enough: he has performed superbly. To have the kicking duties – which is extra pressure on the 10 and still control the game shows he really has come of age. That Gareth Davies try was all down to Dan, that three-quarter kick: it wasn’t a full ‘Garryowen’, it was an ‘Owen’ and to catch that and have the awareness to off load was incredible.
Notwithstanding the injures, if you want to be critical, it was another near-miss against another Southern hemisphere nation. That’s Wales at the World Cup: always the bridesmaid, never the bride. You have to be ruthless at a World Cup; it is knock-out rugby and we come so close without winning.
It is about not switching off: you saw that at the end when the scrum turned. Alex Cuthbert came in from his wing trying to stop the offload but he didn’t, and he should have stayed out there and have had the awareness to see Fourie du Preez coming round.
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My verdict of Wales’ World Cup? It has been incredible. Considering the injuries we have had to contend with, to beat England at Twickenham was huge, and then to push Australia all the way, before South Africa. It is so frustrating: this team can do it, because they are as good as anyone.
It is that final 2% or 3% we need to focus on. I am so disappointed for the team, you couldn’t separate them and South Africa. It is about taking your chances, and, until we get ruthless like the very best, we will continue to finish second.
There is a price tag on Warren Gatland now that England might be sniffing around. He is one of the best coaches anywhere: if he goes, who would do better, because there aren’t many of his quality? I obviously hope he does stay, but you could understand his reasons if he did want to go. He has done a fantastic job.