Skipper Stirling Mortlock has no doubt the Wallabies face the toughest assignment in world rugby next weekend after witnessing the Springboks systematically dismantle the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.

The all-conquering Springboks, fresh from their historic home series triumph over the British and Irish Lions, prevailed 31-19 at ABSA Stadium to post back-to-back Test wins over the All Blacks on successive weekends for the first time in 33 years.

"Regardless of whether or not they've got the No.1 ranking, the Boks are certainly the benchmark in our mind," Mortlock told AAP.

The Springboks, in fact, assumed the No.1 ranking this week and can also lay claim to possessing the world's premier goalkicker after sharp-shooting flyhalf Morne Steyn scored all 31 points in a record-breaking performance that placed the Wallabies on red alert.

Steyn's first-half converted try - which gave the Boks a lead they refused to relinquish in the wet conditions - plus nine penalty goals from 10 attempts earned him a tally which surpassed All Blacks great Andrew Mehrtens's Tri Nations record of 29 points against Australia in Auckland in 1999.

The deadly display sent shivers through the Wallabies camp.

"We certainly can't afford to make any mistakes in our own half. Anywhere near the halfway line, you've got to be a little bit worried," Wallabies assistant coach Jim Williams said.

Joel Stransky, the hero of South Africa's 1995 World Cup-winning campaign, hailed John Smit's men as one of the all-time finest Springboks teams.

"They're so talented, so experienced. But what they do so well is they apply relentless pressure on the opposition," Stransky said.

"They force possession, they force penalties and they take full advantage."

Mortlock, a veteran of 80 Tests dating back to his debut in 2000, claimed the Springboks were even superior to when South Africa secured a second World Cup two years ago.

"There's no doubt they've been improving over the past period of time and that probably culminated in them winning the World Cup in '07. But they've certainly moved their game forward from there as well," Mortlock said.

"They're just a really, really well balanced side and they're playing with a lot of confidence, which comes about by being successful and understanding the systems and what you're trying to achieve.

"And probably where Springboks teams in the past may have played really direct football based around their set-piece totally, these guys have the ability to use the width as they see it.

"They have the ability to sting you off turnovers so, there's a lot more variation in how they can do things in attack."

The Wallabies haven't won at Newlands since 1992 in what was South Africa's first Test against Australia after two decades of sporting isolation.

Making the Wallabies' task even more challenging is the fact they will spend most of this week preparing without coach Robbie Deans following his father's death in New Zealand last Friday.

Deans is not due to arrive in Cape Town until late Wednesday, leaving Williams, the Wallabies' first-year skills coach Richard Graham and senior players to take charge.

"We share responsibilities very well in the squad and Robbie not being here in the early part of the week is fine," Williams said.

"The guys are fairly well versed with their routine for the week and we've had that little bit extra time to prepare ... so it's just a matter of fine-tuning some things and certainly we'll be chatting to Robbie over the next 24 to 48 hours to hear his ideas.

"We'll be in touch constantly to just make sure we've got things down pat."

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