Springboks beaten but unbowed

South Africa's rugby players departed New Zealand yesterday resigned to losing their Tri-Nations crown but confident they were on the right track to winning an even bigger title in two years.

Jake White's youthful Springboks pushed the New Zealanders all the way before conceding a late try to go down 31-27 at Dunedin's "House of Pain".

Victory would have secured back-to-back Tri-nations for South Africa but the title now seems certain to go to the All Blacks, as long as they win this week's final match against an injury-depleted Australia.

White said he was disappointed by the loss but the performance was a further sign his team was looming as one of the main contenders for the 2007 World Cup.

After slumping to sixth place on the world rankings after their quarter-final exit at the 2003 World Cup, the Springboks have been the most improved team in world rugby in the past 12 months.

"To go from sixth in the world to two in the world in the matter of 18 months is something that they can be proud of," White told reporters.

"But the nature of this team is that they're disappointed. The expectation's much greater than before and it's something we can build on for the World Cup in 2007."