South Africa captain John Smit has downplayed any notion of his all-conquering team being tired after a long season, insisting that the Springboks were ready to maintain their high standards on their European tour.

The Boks have enjoyed a sensational year, having seen off the British and Irish Lions, before going on to clinch the Tri-Nations competition.

"It's been a good year," said Smit, who will play prop when the Boks meet France at the Municipal Stadium in Toulouse on Friday, before going on to play Italy and Ireland.

"These are the last three Tests of the year, and we're playing three good teams.

"The challenge is great for us to come away from home and to be able to maintain standards.

"It's not just another Test, but it will determine how the year will end. We're keen to maintain our form."

Smit, who captained the Springboks to World Cup glory on French soil in 2007, said that neither he nor his players were feeling burned out.

"The season's not any longer than any other of the seasons we've had for the last five or six years," the skipper said.

"There aren't any more games than last year or the year before that."

Motivation, he said, came from exacting personal standards and also the harsh realisation that things can soon go awry.

"It's important for us to finish the year strongly," Smit said.

"People always ask us, where to now? But in this game, as fast as you achieve is as fast as you can fall down.

"It's important for us to make sure we are cognizant of what's coming ahead, what we can achieve and just how fast you can lose what you've worked for - that's really what drives us."

Smit added that he was enjoying being back in France, especially after his nine-month spell with Top 14 club Clermont, although he admitted that he had lost any command of the French language.

"It's good to be back. I have only good memories here. I had a fantastic time at Clermont," he said.

"I can't really say much now," he said. "But I can still order food, all the important things!

"I was only here nine months. I had three lessons a week and by the time I left I could understand pretty much everything."

Smit also refused to rule out appearing for South Africa at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

"It looks good. I'm with the Sharks until next year," he said.

"I'll still be young, 31 years young, so I'll see if I can push my legs through until 2011."

Friday's game will also see Smit celebrate his first year as an international prop, having started his conversion from hooker when jostling for that position with Argentinian Mario Ledesma at Clermont.

"It's a year since I started internationally. I've come a long way, I've had to learn a lot of lessons on the way but so far it's been good. I'm not there yet - there's still a lot of work to be done," he said.