One Tri-Nations win over a below-par Springbok team and Robbie Deans believes his Wallaby team can kick on to be a real force at the 2011 World Cup tournament in New Zealand.

Speaking after his team's 21-6 win over the Bok in Brisbane on Saturday, Australia's first win of the tournament, Deans said Australia can build on the victory.

The Wallabies had answered their critics in the most emphatic way, dominated the Boks in the scrums and showed improved line-out form.

Deans feels there are many aspects of the Brisbane encounter that his team can take heart from, as they look towards the 2011 World Cup.

"Not giving them a start helps," said Deans of the recipe that set his team on their way to victory.

Australia scored the first points and led on the scoreboard from the first minute to the last, as opposed to Perth a week earlier where they were always chasing the game.

"The boys kept playing for eighty minutes. We had three tries over the line disallowed [by the TMO] and the guys kept coming and kept their heads up for 80 minutes.

"It was evident at the end there that some belief and confidence kicked in, showing great spirit for such a young group of players and that's what we've been looking for.

"It will be a fillip for this group and that was evident in the last 10 minutes," said Deans.

"We took South Africa outside their comfort zone which we haven't been able to do previously."

Although the Australians controlled the match from the outset, it was not until late in the second half that their dominance was reflected on the scoreboard.

The players had been heavily criticised in Australia this past week but silenced their detractors with a surprising but deserved win over the world champions.

"It's better than the alternative without a doubt," Deans told a news conference.

Wallaby captain George Smith hailed the performance of Zimbabwean-born openside flank David Pocock, who made his run on debut and delivered a five star performance at the breakdown.

"The pressure on 'Poco' was immense. But it was fantastic the way the guys got up and were looking for work. At the ruck area we were fantastic and we counter-rucked a couple of times too. We played well in that area," said Smith.

Deans was also full of praise for scrumhalf Will Genia, who also started his first Test and made a big difference to the performance of playmaker Matt Giteau and the Wallaby backs.

Even though Genia tapped and ran a penalty close to the poles, being denied a try by the TMO after opposite Fourie du Preez had ripped the ball out of his hands, Deans refused to criticise the rookie No.9 for his rash decision.

"There's no doubt both [Pocock and Genia] made a difference to us. Will cleaned up a few times and got us out of jail.

"What we want is when we throw a rope to those blokes is for them to do well. It was fantastic that he took a tap and went for the line. We want everyone in the group to be prepared to take the initiative and back their instincts," said Deans.

The other Wallaby receiving post-match accolades was loosehead prop Benn Robinson, who twice popped Smit out of the scrum and won two penalties in a set piece where the Springboks have been struggling.

"It's great to see the growth of our scrum and being rewarded in an area we have worked hard on that is now one of our strengths," said Deans.