Coach Coetzee backs beaten Springboks

South Africa coach Allister Coetzee defended his misfiring Springboks yesterday saying they are trying their best. The tourists slumped to a record 38-3 defeat to Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, less than two months since New Zealand gave them a 57-0 thrashing. Coetzee, though, put down their abject showing to a lack of experience and ill-discipline that allowed Ireland to open up a lead through penalties. “The crux of the matter is we were illdisciplined,” Coetzee said. “We didn’t realise penalties will hurt you so much and the three points in the northern hemisphere is almost like a score [try]. [However] to just say there’s a lack of effort is awful. It’s also not true,” he added.