The youngest member of the 2007 Springbok World Cup squad insisted his grizzled teammates were on the right side of the hill and Fiji's captain, no spring chicken, also gave the old boys club the thumbs up after his side lost to South Africa yesterday.

Frans Steyn said the team hadthe knowledge, belief and ability to become the first to win back-to-back World Cups.

"That's been said about the team for a long time (that they are too old). Somewhere along the line the guys will prove them wrong. We must just keep up the standards. We must build on this performance.

"I don't think we're too old. We had a big game and Danie Rossouw was man of the match, and he's 33.

"We just need to be fit because the fittest team will win," said Steyn.

Deacon Manu, Fiji's thoughtful captain, was beating the same drum. "I think they are better than four years ago. They are certainly more experienced. They are going to be one of teams, if not the team, to beat here," he said.

Apart from honouring his responsibilities in the tight exchanges, Rossouw, the 60-test veteran, was a dominant force as Springbok ball carrier, while his industry in cleaning out rucks was exemplary.

The man who crucially tackled England's Mark Cueto into touch in the previous World Cup final, played down his performance yesterday, rather pointing to the significance of the collective effort.

"It was really important that we did well in this game. We were under pressure since the last game and a result like this was much needed. We are just so pleased we got through it and that things went so well.

"I want to do well here and finish off well for the Springboks before I go to Japan next year. That is my emphasis," Rossouw said.

Coach Peter de Villiers was suitably pleased with the utility forward's effort. "His performance has to do with our structures. He just slots in and runs the right lines. To look at an old man with a new revitalised engine is great. I'm very pleased with Danie.

"Before we announced the team I had some concerns because he has played 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4, which requires different responsibilities and roles. But he fitted in well and I take my hat off to him," De Villiers said.

After such a commanding performance, tweaking his team for their engagement against Namibia next week would seem folly.

He has players such as Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield who will not be considered for that match, but with a view to the quarterfinal, which now looks likely to be against Australia, the Springboks brains trust seems to have more options.

De Villiers insisted that Bakkies Botha, who has had Achilles trouble, was in rude health and that his failure to appear for the second half had nothing to do with injury.