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World champions South Africa are still improving and can only get better heading into the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, captain John Smit and his deputy Victor Matfield have both said.

The Springboks, who beat England in the final in Paris in 2007 to win the Webb Ellis Cup, have beaten the British and Irish Lions, Australia and the All Blacks twice each this year.

They have also overtaken the All Blacks at the top of the International Rugby Board rankings and won the Tri-Nations title by beating New Zealand at Waikato Stadium on Saturday.

Their side is a mix of an aggressive and grizzled pack, led by Smit, Matfield and lock Bakkies Botha, with a goal-kicking flyhalf Morne Steyn and exciting outside backs like Bryan Habana and Frans Steyn.

"I think the team can be developed every year," Matfield said. "There are a lot of youngsters and the more exposure they get the more experienced they will become.

"That team will be better than we are now." Smit echoed his vice-captain's comments.

"I think we have got a wonderful group of guys playing," Smit said. "We have a coaching staff who understand which direction this group of players need to move.

"If I was (coach) Peter (de Villiers) I would be pretty happy I could get the boat sailing in the right direction."

Reuters