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Warren Gatland Says He’s Proud Of Wales . . . But Admits His Dream Has Been Shattered

Wales coach Warren Gatland admitted his side paid the price for conceding too many penalties as they suffered an agonising 19-16 defeat to South Africa in their World Cup semi-final.

The Springboks will face England in next Saturday’s final following fly-half Handre Pollard’s match-winning penalty four minutes from time.

Pollard kicked a total of 14 points and Gatland told ITV: “I’m proud of our guys. Congratulations to South Africa, I thought they played very well up front.

“We probably gave away too many penalties in our own half and that cost us dearly but I’m proud of the fact that we never gave up and got ourselves back into that game and we were in the arm wrestle.

“Two or three scrum penalties, a couple of line-out penalties are disappointing and that’s the difference between the two teams.

“We punch massively above our weight when you consider the playing size of numbers in Wales so I’m really proud of these guys.

“They gave 100 per cent. It was a tough, physical South Africa team that we played against. Our guys didn’t take a backward step and I can only be proud of them for that.

“At 16-all it was pretty close and you’re sort of dreaming about the three points being the other way but like I said, congratulations to South Africa and I think it will be a great final between England and South Africa.”

Former South Africa winger Bryan Habana paid tribute to Pollard for his composure in kicking the winning penalty.

“I think in pressure moments the big players step up and Handre takes it back a further 15 metres and puts himself under even more pressure but that composure, you know why he’s rated one of the best fly-halves in the world,” Habana said.

“It’s improved immensely over the last two years and I think South Africa are pretty lucky to have someone as accurate as that kicking for them.”

A downcast Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones told ITV: “We stayed in the arm wrestle. I’m proud of us when we went 16-all but we probably piggy-backed the penalties down the park and South Africa took advantage so congratulations to them.

“Today we fell short but hopefully (will) get another opportunity. It wasn’t our day but I’m still proud to pull this jersey on and represent all the people in red in the stadium.”

Gareth Thomas, whose 100th and last Test match for Wales came in the 2007 World Cup, felt Gatland’s side had given everything they could.

“I think they’ve put everything on the line,” Thomas said. “It was a tough battle, South Africa won deservedly – you could argue Wales could have won as well. They couldn’t have done any more.”

Gatland believes England will find it just as awkward to overcome the Springboks and suggested Eddie Jones’ side may already have peaked in the tournament with their semi-final victory over New Zealand.

‘We have seen in previous World Cups that teams sometimes play their final in semi-finals and don’t always turn up for a final,’ Gatland said.

‘So it will be interesting to see how England are next week and it could be a good game.

‘We have another game to play against the All Blacks. The dream was that my first game was in charge of Wales was against England and so the last would be against them as well, but it was not to be.’

South Africa prevailed through four penalties from Handre Pollard, who also converted Damian de Allende’s powerful try that effectively broke Wales’ resistance.

‘South Africa have the physicality to match England. I thought England were outstanding, but South Africa have a very good chance,’ Gatland added.

‘They might have to be a bit more expansive in the way they want to play. They had a pretty simple game plan against us in terms of the scrums and box kicking from Faf De Klerk and Pollard.

‘It was very effective and for them it was about making the final and doing whatever it took to do that. It was a tough encounter. We knew it was going to be an arm wrestle and we stayed in that arm wrestle.

‘I thought there was a momentum shift until the last four or five minutes and we started to get going, but unfortunately we were penalised and the game got away from us.

‘I am not taking away from South Africa and I thought they played really well. They were willing to take us on up front.

‘I am very proud of the boys in never giving up. With a little bit of luck and a bounce of the ball it might have been different.

‘We are very disappointed but I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved in this World Cup and what this group of players have done. We can hold our heads held high and leave Japan with a lot of respect.’

South Africa reached the final for the third time where they will play England in a repeat of the 2007 showpiece when they prevailed 15-6 to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy for the second time.

‘It was nerve-racking at the end and I must say that losing the previous four matches against them it could have gone their way again,’ coach Rassie Erasmus said.

‘I have so much respect for Wales, for their coach. I thought those last few minutes they might pull it through again and I think there was a little bit of luck on our side.

‘I’m proud of our guys but also proud to win against a team like Wales because they are really a class outfit.

‘We’re in the final of a World Cup so that’s some respect, but we’re only halfway there. We would love to win the World Cup.

‘We play a class England team in the final now but we’ve really got a chance and we might go all the way, you never know.’

 

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