The Junior Springboks’ dream of lifting the World Cup is over after they lost 20-7 to France in Monday night’s semifinal in Rosario.
Coach Chean Roux’s charges will now meet Argentina in the third-and-fourth-place playoff on Saturday, after Australia defeated the hosts 34-13 in the other semifinal.
But Roux admits: “We were beaten by the better side.
“I don’t think we pitched up mentally for this game and we made some silly mistakes.
"I'll be honest, it's really not a good feeling!" @JuniorBoks captain Phendulani Buthelezi reflects on a disappointing loss against France in the semi-final at the #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/4jyFBv7ZZq
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 17, 2019
“You need a little bit of luck as well.
“So there are no excuses, we were simply beaten by the better side.”
With the bronze playoff left in the competition, Roux adds: “We’ve been there in the past, but that is not what we came for.
“We have a couple of injuries, so we will see who is fit to play the next game and we will take it from there.”