The Springboks stepped up preparations for the opening Test of their year-end tour, against France in Toulouse on Friday, determined to erase the Dirt Trackers' hiccup against Leicester last Friday from the memory bank.

Despite the Boks' 17-22 loss to the English club champions, Leicester Tigers, the mood in the South African camp remained upbeat.

In fact Bok stalwart Bryan Habana, in an exclusive interview with iafrica.com, made it clear that the Test selection are determined to not only guide the youngsters and newcomers to the squad, but also leave a winning legacy for them to enjoy.

With the Dirt Trackers already in Europe, the Bok Test XV stayed behind in South Africa. Following a long-weekend of well-deserved R&R, John Smit's charges took to the training field again on Monday to prepare for the encounter with France.

They will have another day of training on South African soil on Tuesday, before flying out to Toulouse - where they will have only a light flush-out on Wednesday and a captain's run on Thursday.

All the serious preparations, for the Friday night outing, will be completed before they leave home soil.

Habana admitted that a Friday night in Toulouse is "probably not the best place" for a Test, but they see this as an opportunity to build on what they have already achieved on the international stage this year.

"The last time we beat France in France was in 1997. The biggest thing with this trip, the next three weeks, is that we have an opportunity to make this one of the best years South Africa rugby has ever seen," Habana told iafrica.com.

"As we know, success breeds success, and we want to go out there and do our utmost best to win the next three Tests and try and retain our No.1 spot in world rugby.

"We want to achieve something that not many South African teams have been able to achieve.

"The last time we won in Ireland was in 2000, so that is also a great opportunity," Habana said in reference to the Boks' recent records against their opponents on tour.

The last Bok win in France was a record 52-10 triumph by the Nick Mallett-coached team in 1997, which was followed by three successive defeats - 10-20 in 2001, a record 10-30 loss a year later and a 20-26 defeat in 2005.

And the last win against Ireland was the 28-18 win in 2000, with a 12-17 loss in 2004 and a 15-32 defeat two years later.

However, it is not just about the Test team winning.

Habana said it is also very important that the newcomers to the Bok team, 10 of them in all, must experience a winning culture - something which is vitally important after the loss by the Dirt Trackers last Friday.

"There's also an opportunity for us as senior players to involve some very talented young prospects in breeding the success of Springbok rugby," he told iafrica.com.

"When I first became involved in the Springbok set-up in 2004, I immediately found out what it was like to be successful.

"I got into a Tri-Nations squad where Marius Joubert scored a hat-trick [against the All Blacks in Johannesburg, a 40-26 win].

"We beat Australia [23-19] in Durban the following week and won the Tri-Nations for the first time since 1998.

"I think there is a huge opportunity to learn and grow and experience some wonderful things in these next three weeks.

"I also think it would be really fantastic if we as players can give an amazing end to the year, not only for ourselves, but for guys like John Smit and Peter de Villiers, who have worked unbelievably hard in the last 18 or so months."

The 26-year-old Bok flyer also feels it is "very important" to keep the core of the current Test squad together through to the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand - which will not only help the youngsters to ease into the set-up, but ensure the winning culture is maintained.

"On this tour alone there is seven players with 50 [Test] caps for their country," he said, adding: "That is an unbelievable position that South African rugby is in at the moment.

"You've got so much experience and many senior players being able to contribute to the success of this team. In Peter de Villiers you have a coach who have managed this ship unbelievably well the last 18 months. Yes, he had a few big waves to overcome last year, but the way he has made this team a success this year speaks volumes for what he is as a person and what he is able to do.

"And, like I said, for young the players it is important to learn. When I got there Monty [Percy Montgomery] had just played 50 Tests, Os [du Randt] had played 50 Tests and Breyton [Paulse] has played 50 Tests.

"For youngsters to be able to soak up and learn and see what it is like to tour Europe is important.

"I think the conditions in 2011 [World Cup in New Zealand] might be similar to what we are going to experience now in Toulouse and Dublin.

"Yes, it is exciting and we have an opportunity to carry on building this legacy that we are part of at the moment.

"Hopefully we'll be carrying on not only for this tour, but next year's Super 14, next year's Tests and come 2011."

  • In the next part of iafrica.com's interview with Habana we will give you more on his views on Peter de Villiers and John Smit.

  • For the first part of Jan de Koning's interview with Habana, about his decision to move to Cape Town, CLICK HERE!