South Africa's Mark Boucher has ensured a fiery start to next week's first Test, refusing to back down on comments in a magazine article that he had lost respect for some Australian players.

"I don't need to tell the Australians (anything)," Boucher said when asked if he needed to clarify comments he had made in an interview with the British edition of Wisden Cricketer magazine.

"I'm not making any apologies for what I said or anything like that," added Boucher, speaking at a news conference at the Newlands ground ahead of Friday's fourth one-dayer against Australia.

"I know what I said and I meant it. If people want to take my words and twist them around, that's up to them."

The Proteas wicketkeeper told Wisden he had only attended post-match drinks in the home team's dressing rooms after the third Test in Sydney two months ago because it was customary to do so.

"I hope our public give them a bit of stick, because we've taken a serious amount," Boucher said in Wisden.

"In the past our crowds haven't been too great with them, but, trust me, we're not going to sit back and say, 'shame, poor things'."

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, vice-captain Adam Gilchrist and batsman Mike Hussey have all spoken in the past week about how relations between the two teams are fine.

However, Hussey admitted on Tuesday there was "obviously a bit of chat out there".

Despite not backing down on his earlier comments that he had lost respect for some Australian players, Boucher surprisingly said he also felt both teams got along well.

"There is a bit of banter on the field which is expected. That's international cricket and you can't get away from that," Boucher said.

"Other than that, the relationship has been very good."

Boucher said his magazine comments had been "twisted".

"It came out the week before the Aussies arrived so maybe it was because the media wanted to build the tour up and maybe twist my words a bit," he said.

"Touring places like Australia, New Zealand, England can be really tough on us particularly, and when they tour South Africa I'm sure it's exactly the same for them.

"And rightly so, that's our home-ground advantage and you have to learn how to deal with that as an international cricketer.

"I never ever once said that the crowd should start abusing the Australians or anything like that.

"But I wasn't blind to the fact that it was probably going to happen. We don't expect any favours when we go over there and I'm sure they don't expect any favours when they come over here."

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