BY WINNING the final Test in Johannesburg on Saturday, and avoiding an humiliating whitewash in the gruelling series against New Zealand, the Springboks have at least managed to salvage some pride.

Thanks largely to a glittering performance from the ageless full back Andre Joubert, who kicked three superb penalties, scored a try, and made the decisive break which produced another, the world champions added a semblance of respectability to their record, and although the final score of 32-22 is a fair indication, they spent 20 minutes of the second half sitting on an unbelievable 32-8 lead.

Despite this, however, the All Blacks, having already created history by becoming the first New Zealand team in 75 years to win a series in South Africa, were clearly not as motivated as in the previous games. The commitment, fire and energy needed to break the South Africans superb defence simply did not meet the same standards set in the three earlier matches, and the gigantic task of four Tests in four consecutive weeks had visibly taken its, toll on the New Zealanders.

"We achieved what we set out to do here. Winning the series was the paramount aim, and I think a lot of us already had one foot on the plane today," said Zinzan Brooke, deputising for concussed captain Sean Fitzpatrick, absent from the post match interview.

The New Zealanders, preparing for a tickertape welcome victory parade to be held in Auckland's Queen Street tomorrow, flew out yesterday leaving South African rugby severely dented. Admittedly the Springboks have had to contend with numerous injury problems, and they used 34 players in the series compared to the New Zealanders' 18, but the Ellis Park win cannot hide the deficiencies in their previous losses to New Zealand.

Politics and power lay dominate the South African selection process, their back line play is virtually non existent, and the contract of charismatic team manager Morne du Plessis - the sole administrator with any credibility overseas - terminates today.

"I think they would be wrong to read too much in to this victory. They have rested on their World Cup success and have not gone forward from there," said New Zealand coach John Hart. On the positive side for South Africa however is their tenacity, the sheer intensity of their commitment to the tackle, and their ability to shut down even the most sophisticated attacking sides.

Every Saturday we had a huge improvement in our game. We are rebuilding and going from strength to strength, and I believe we showed that if you can pressure the All Blacks and stop them behind the gain line they become vulnerable and give points away," said their coach Andre Markgraaff.

Even more positive perhaps was the uncustomary display of graciousness from controversial SARFU supremo Louis Luyt whose post match speech after the World Cup final last year scandalised the international rugby fraternity. "We might hold the World Cup, but New Zealand are the world champions. They beat us in the tri series and they beat us in the Test series and that's that," said Luyt.