Best of the Boks yet to come
However, the Springboks believe they are still some way off from their best performance – despite convincing wins in their last two World Cup pool matches.
Japan's 34-32 win over the Boks in their Pool B opener was the most stunning of all upsets and led to intense criticism of the team.
However, – with a core of senior players at the forefront – they bounced back with a 46-6 win over Samoa and last weekend's 34-16 defeat of Scotland.
That leaves the Boks well placed to top their pool and advance to the quarterfinals – with just this coming Wednesday's pool match against the United States remaining before the knock-out stages.
Record-breaking South Africa wing Bryan Habana said the Boks' roller-coaster start to the World Cup has caused the most "vast and intense highs and lows" he has ever known in his illustrious career.
And he is adamant their best is yet to come.
"We always have dreams and goals of achieving success at this World Cup," Habana told a media gathering.
"Japan was a hundred times more disappointing for us – as individuals and as a team – than it was for anyone outside this group.
"The response post that game has been good," he said, adding: "However, we still believe we are not quite there yet.
"[There are] a couple of issues that we need to sort out, both on the field and off the field.
"We believe that if we want to get to the next stage we will need to improve on those aspects.
"All our focus this week has been on improving against America."
Habana said the US Eagles may not be ranked in the top 10 in the world, but they have seen for the Yanks' two pool matches at the tournament the physicality and intensity with which they play.
"They will be difficult."
He said their "goals and dreams" as a team have not changed.
"Wednesday is another hurdle that we can't afford to slip up in and there is lots of work still to be done."
The 32-year-old wing, one of the best finishers of his generation, said he is proud of the way South Africa recovered from the shock of being beaten by Japan.
"The highs and lows of the last two weeks have probably been the most vast and intense that I have ever experienced in my professional career," the Bok flyer said.
Habana, whose brilliant tally of 61 tries in 113 Tests leaves him behind only Japan's Daisuke Ohata (69) and Australia's David Campese (64) on the all-time list of leading international try-scorers, has still yet to decide if he will play for South Africa beyond the World Cup.
"A lot of people say you know when the end is near, to be honest I don't think it's quite there yet for me," explained Habana, who said his "spirits had been kept going" by helping star-studded French club Toulon win back-to-back European Cups during the past two seasons.
Habana's two tries in three matches this tournament have left him just three shy of equalling New Zealand star Jonah Lomu's overall record of 15 tries in World Cup matches.
But for Habana, records are as nothing compared to the enduring thrill of representing his country.
"It will always be a massive honour and privilege to wear that green and gold jersey and run out with a band of 22 brothers.
"I'll never ever take that for granted and hopefully I can continue doing it for a little while longer."
@rugby365com & AFP
