South Africa's coach Nick Mallett described his Tri-Nations victors as the greatest Springbok team of all time after they overwhelmed Australia to win the southern hemisphere tournament at Ellis Park on Saturday night.
Mallett, who was enjoying his 13th straight victory as coach in the team's 14th successive Test win, said there was now no doubt that, by defeating Australia, South Africa had proved they are the world's best team.
"In the past I've downplayed it, but I can say it now: on the 22nd of August, 1998, South Africa are the best team in the world, and I am very proud to be a part of it," Mallett said.
"This is just a fantastic achievement. We've beaten France away twice, we've beaten England home and away, Australia and New Zealand home and away.
"I challenge anyone to go back in the history of South African rugby ever to find results like that in a one-year period."
Mallett's claim that his side are better than the 1995 World Cup victors and other illustrious line-ups, including the 1937, 1951-52, 1960-61 and 1968-69 Springboks, was backed up by his scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen, who was involved in the Ellis Park extravaganza three years ago when they won the World Cup final.
"I don't want to sound arrogant or over-confident, but this is the best team I've played for," he said.
Van der Westhuizen, alongside his captain Gary Teichmann, led the Springboks around Ellis Park for a victory lap before 63,000 fans in scenes reminiscent of 1995 when they defeated New Zealand.
So confident were the South Africans of victory that, with six minutes left, the Tannoy boomed out We Are the champions.
Mallett and van der Westhuizen argued that this was a better effort than 1995 as it involved playing top-class opposition week-in, week-out all over the southern hemisphere, relying upon enormous courage, stamina and willpower to finish unbeaten after four Tests.
South Africa kept their best TriNations performance until last, with an exceptional defensive effort basically blotting Australia out of the game and nullifying their best asset - the ability to string long phases of play together.
Another crucial factor was van der Westhuizen successfully tar getting the talented but inexperienced fly-half Stephen Larkham.
"I expected more from the Australian pack and more from Larkham," van der Westhuizen said. "From tight phases I looked at Larkham, and then he looked at me. He started shouting something to Australia's scrum-half George Gregan, and immediately took three steps back. The mom ent Larkham stood back Australia lost 20 yards, and that's where they lost the game."
Australia now return to Sydney to play a fragile New Zealand team next Saturday night for the last of the three Bledisloe Cup Tests.
Australia have a long injury-list, with centres Tim Horan and Daniel Herbert, the prop Andrew Blades and Larkham all in doubt for a match in which the All Blacks will be desperate to win after four losses.
SOUTH AFRICA: Snyman (Smith, 80 mins), Muller, Roussouw; Honi ball, van der Westhuizen; Kempson (Le Roux, 51), Dalton, Garvey, Otto, Andrews (Skin stad, 56), Erasmus (Aitken, 77), Venter, Teich mann (capt).
AUSTRALIA: Burke; Tune, Herbert (Little, 6 mins), Horan, Roff; Larkham, Gregan; Crowley, Kearns, Blades (Panoho, 73), Bowman, Eales (capt), Cockbain (Finegan, 63), Wilson, Kefu (Ofahengaue, 53).
Referee: J Fleming (Scotland).
