Rugby: Springboks backing a winner

Springbok skipper John Smit is keen on playing through to the 2011 World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

In horse racing parlance, the Springboks have bolted lengths clear with two laps to run.

The question is whether a stable of world class players can maintain their clinical rage until 2011 and become the first team to taste World Cup glory in successive tournaments.

Coach Peter de Villiers has a propensity for outrageous comments but he was staying cool about his experienced side's prospects following their 32-29 defeat of the All Blacks in Hamilton on Saturday to secure a first Tri-Nations title for five years.

"We don't want to sit back now and think that everything will happen for us when we know that the World Cup in New Zealand will be very very tough," De Villiers said.

"This team will remain humble, keep our feet on the ground. This team hasn't seen the best of themselves yet... we hope this can give us momentum."

South African rugby has this year matched New Zealand's quadruple crown achievement of 2005 - winning the Super 14, Tri-Nations, world sevens series and beating the British and Irish Lions in a series.

Captain John Smit echoed the recent sentiment of fellow-tight five veteran Victor Matfield after Saturday's test. He will likely play at the next World Cup if his form and fortunes don't dip over the next two years.

Even the likes of second five-eighth Jean de Villiers and fullback Francois Steyn, who leave shortly for respective club contracts in Ireland and France, have hinted at a desire to be present for their world title defence.

"The quality within this team and the calibre of the people that you're working with, that makes this a special group of players," Jean de Villiers said.

"It makes you want to come back and play for this team, I'll see how things go."

While the 2007 squad still forms the current core, players such as prop Tendai Mtawarira, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, flanker Heinrich Brussow and first five-eighth Morne Steyn have emerged to blend energy with experience.

Veteran All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina said the Springboks have leapt clear as the obvious team to beat at the next World Cup.

"They have to be. They've beaten us three times, they've won the Tri-Nations, they've beaten us away and perhaps in the past they haven't been able to do that," Muliaina said.

"They are the team to chase and they thoroughly deserve their success so far."

Smit said it would be dangerous to assume their current playing style - a kicking-based game built on a devastating lineout - would continue to prevail as other teams found new ways to combat them.

"It's fairly tricky to say who is going in the right or wrong direction because I believe all three teams can play different types of games," Smit said.

Peter de Villiers praised the unifying leadership of Smit and the continual search for excellence from a group brimming with self-belief.

"Coaches don't make coaches, players make coaches, and we have a great bunch of players out there, and I think the best leader in the business worldwide," he said.

"To beat the All Blacks in New Zealand is really huge, it was as tough as it gets. The All Blacks aren't a walkover, to play them in their backyard it's a great honour to come out victorious."

- NZPA