Steve Waugh made the Proteas pay for their World Cup fragility in 1999, but now the former Aussie skipper believes the South Africans are a tough bunch.

Famously dropped by Herschelle Gibbs when on 52 in the Super Six game of that World Cup, Waugh went on to make an unbeaten 120 and take Australia to a five-wicket win. The Aussies again took advantage when South African nerves failed in the infamous tied semifinal at Edgbaston that eliminated the Proteas from the tournament.

Waugh believes the current South African team has not inherited the choking reputation of his former foes.

"If I had to name one [standout team at this World Cup] it would be South Africa," wrote Waugh in his column for the Hindustan Times this week.

"They have ... displayed some skill in areas that have not been their forte. Significant among these is spin. They have used their slow bowlers well and, starting with Imran Tahir and continuing with Robin Peterson, the Proteas have proved they can go all the way," he predicted ahead of South Africa's quarterfinal against New Zealand on Friday in Dhaka.

Last Saturday when South Africa bowled out Bangladesh for 78 in just 28 overs, the three Proteas spin bowlers - including Johan Botha, who opened the bowling - accounted for 19 overs and took six of the 10 wickets. Peterson is the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 14. The three spinners have taken 27 of the 60 wickets the Proteas have captured so far.

Botha said he thought the three slow bowlers were very different from each other, "and that has brought us a lot of wickets in the tournament".

Botha singled out New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor as the biggest threat to South Africa on Friday.

"He is in very good form and he's played really well so far in this tournament," Botha said of the Kiwi who scored an unbeaten 131 in his team's 110-run over Pakistan in the first round of the World Cup.

"Ross is definitely a key player and so is Brendon McCullum."

New Zealand are optimistic that key bowlers Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills will be fit for Friday.

Captain Vettori missed the last two first-round games because of a knee injured in the win over Pakistan, while pace bowler Mills sat out the defeat against Sri Lanka on Friday with a thigh strain.