Sunday 23 November 2014 16:20, UK
Taulupe Faletau admitted it was ‘disappointing’ to lose out to New Zealand on Saturday when the reigning World Cup holders overturned a narrow deficit during the closing stages at the Millennium Stadium.
With 12 minutes remaining in Cardiff, the hosts led the All Blacks 16-15 only for the Kiwis to run in three late tries to claim a 26th straight win over the Welsh.
And speaking after that 34-16 defeat, forward Faletau said: "It's disappointing. We were in the game until the latter stage but just let it go.
"New Zealand got the luck of the bounce (for Beauden Barrett's first try) and just went on from there. We couldn't get the momentum back.
"The defensive effort was great but New Zealand aren't world champions for nothing and they showed their class.
“We fell off at the end of the game and that is when a team like them takes advantage.
It was a great effort by the boys. We left everything on the pitch
"It was a great effort by the boys – we left everything on the pitch – but we came up short and it's disappointing to keep saying the same things over again."
Looking ahead to next weekend’s visit of South Africa, Faletau added: "We are still optimistic for South Africa, especially if we play like we did against New Zealand.
"To be in with a chance of winning the game with 10 minutes left against those guys (New Zealand), we have to take some credit for that.
"We were there or thereabouts until late on, and we have to take confidence from that.
"We are disappointed because we thought we could get something out of the game with New Zealand, but with a bit of luck it will go our way against South Africa.
"We should have won the game against them in the summer but we lost because of our discipline. We are not far off, and we are confident that the result will go our way soon."
