De Villiers says South Africa can get better still

(GETTY)

With less than two years to go before they begin their defence of the World Cup, South Africa have the right to be brimming with confidence.

Judging on their performances in beating the British and Irish Lions and winning five of their six Tri-Nations test matches to secure the title this year, they are rapidly firming as the bookmakers' favourites to retain the Webb Ellis Cup.

However, their coach Peter de Villiers is not getting too confident, believing his team still have room to improve. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves," he said after his team beat the All Blacks 32-29 at Waikato Stadium on Saturday to clinch the Tri-Nations title.

"We still made a lot of mistakes. We don't have the control over winning and losing but we are still to see the best out of this team yet."