South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday welcomed a victorious Springboks team home, saying the Tri-Nations champions had once again proven they were the world's best rugby side.

"They make us proud. Those countries coming to play with them think twice before any game," Zuma told around 600 fans at Johannesburg's airport at the team's arrival after clinching the Tri-Nations title in New Zealand.

"I can't remember a Boks team that beat the All Blacks in succession, proving once more we are indeed the best," said Zuma, who was presented with a Springbok blazer and jersey.

Captain John Smit, who led the team to World Cup victory in 2007, said the team had showed "huge composure" on Saturday to win a Test match and the Tri-Nations in New Zealand.

"This is a team that keeps on getting over the obstacles," he told public broadcaster SABC.

"It's a special time for South Africans in general, we seem to be excelling in all areas.

"To have the Springboks becoming the number one side in the world, winning the Tri-Nations and beating the British and Irish Lions gives us a huge amount of focus and momentum.

"But it's important to stay humble and keep working. We have to make sure that we don't make this the highlight of the last five years, but rather keep on going and keep these guys together."

Smit said the strength of the Springboks went beyond the players.

"The strength of this side is that we have a good group of people, not just players. So if we keep them together and keep working, we will have a crack at the next World Cup."

South Africa withstood a late New Zealand onslaught in Hamilton on Saturday to triumph 32-29 and take an unassailable 12-point lead in the annual southern hemisphere championship.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said the team will take a week or two off and start planning for a year-end tour, but also cautioned against becoming over-confident, SAPA reported.

"This is the second time we beat them in two years. But it doesn't mean that we will win everything now," the coach said.

"We just have to bite the bullet and keep going to maintain the number one spot."

South Africa became Tri-Nations champions for only the third time in 14 attempts after defeating New Zealand twice at home and once away and Australia once at home and once away.

The sole reverse for coach De Villiers and his vastly experienced team came on September 5 in Brisbane when Australia triumphed 21-6 to avenge a narrow defeat in Perth seven days earlier.

Finishing their campaign with a victory in New Zealand was especially sweet for the Springboks, who had not beaten the All Blacks three times in one year since 1949.

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