South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has apologised to the nation after his side suffered greatest ever Rugby World Cup defeat against Japan in their opening Pool B match on Saturday.
Meyer, whose side were beaten 32-34 against an opponent that had not won a World Cup game since 1991 against Zimbabwe, described the loss as the worst moment of his coaching career, Sport24 reported.
The two-time world champions failed to breach Japan's solid defence and committed countless errors against a spirited Asian rival.
Taking responsibility for the defeat, Meyer apologised to the nation and called on the springboks to bounce back from the upset.
South Africa will take on Samoa, Scotland and US in the rest of their pool games.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app