by Michael McCann

at Twickenham

Wales lock Luke Charteris and number eight Taulupe Faletau admit that conceding soft penalties caused their 23-19 quarter-final defeat to South Africa on Saturday.

A try from Springbok captain Fourie du Preez late on crushed Wales, who had failed to build a lead due to conceding regular penalties in kicking range, with Charteris admitting that he was partially culpable.

“We said before the game that it was important not to concede penalties but all referees are different; it often comes down to who plays the referee best. Personally I made a few stupid mistakes myself.”

Wales had led for the majority of the game before du Preez scored with five minutes left to help South Africa snatch victory, a moment which Charteris suggests fatigue contributed too.

“It was a tough, tough game, the toughest match I’ve played in — very fast. I think for 70 minutes we did enough to win the game but a team like South Africa never dies.”

“In the last 10-15 minutes we were very, very tired and made that one slip but it was quality work from Duane Vermeulem to find du Preez.”

Faletau agreed with Charteris that four first-half South African penalties cost Wales by leaving them just 13-12 at half-time, despite dominating proceedings until then.

“At the start of the game we gave away cheap penalties. Our discipline in the first 20 minutes let us down. The penalties we gave away worked well for them at the end of the game.”

“It’s a missed opportunity, we should have done better. For me it’s more disappointing than 2011.”