Springboks lock Ruan Nortjé admits France defeat is a tough one to swallow
Ruan Nortjé admits the Springboks have plenty of work to do after their 21-19 defeat to France at the Stade de France, with Ireland next on the agenda.
In a tense France victory over the Springboks at the Stade de France, lock Ruan Nortjé admitted that the defeat is a challenging one for his team to swallow. France earned their hard-fought 21-19 win through a disciplined performance, with Nortjé recognizing that the hosts demonstrated great character to hold out for the final result.
The Springboks were left to lament missed opportunities and handling errors, as they suffered their first defeat of the tournament. Nortjé highlighted the need for the team to address their shortcomings, including failing to capitalize on attacking chances when entering France's 22-meter area. Despite the loss, Nortjé praised his teammates for never backing down until the end and acknowledged France's flair in the game.
With no shortage of intensity between the two teams in recent years, Nortjé warned that the Boks face a big challenge against Ireland in their next Nations Championship fixture and must focus on fixing several areas of their game to represent their country with pride.
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