All of the Irish team's focus has moved on to beating Zimbabwe this Saturday following today's heavy defeat by South Africa, according to Ireland batsman Andrew Balbirnie.

The 24-year-old says Ireland were undone by a class Proteas performance, and their own mistakes in the 201-run World Cup loss in Canberra.

Phil Simmons' side are fourth in Pool B with three matches remaining - against Zimbabwe, India and Pakistan.

Balbirnie insists that despite the loss there are positives to take from today. "We knew how dangerous a side they were going into it, and they proved that," he told Newstalk's Oisin Langan. "We weren't really at the races today and we got a heavy defeat."

He added: "We spoke tonight about how if we want to win this World Cup we have to beat South Africa. They set the benchmark for us in terms of how to play and how to approach our innings and with the ball."

Zimbabwe are up next and Balbirnie is under no illusions. "They play a lot of one-day cricket and they're a capable side," he said. "All fifteen [Irish] lads will be ready to go come Saturday."

He also admitted that Ireland's rugby victory over England and Padraig Harrington's Honda Classic triumph had lifted the squad.

Hashim Amla is named the Player of the Match for his innings of 159 #cwc15 #SAvIRE https://t.co/beGU8aO7CK

— ICC (@ICC) March 3, 2015