7 Oct 2011

Smit says pool matches have been invaluable for underdone Boks

7:00 am on 7 October 2011

The Springbok captain John Smit says the Rugby World Cup pool matches have been invaluable in their bid to retain the Webb Ellis trophy but the results are now irrelevant.

South Africa's gone unbeaten through pool play while their quarter-final opponents Australia suffered a surprise loss to Ireland.

However Smit says Australia will have a mental edge over the Springboks with the Wallabies having won all but one of their last six Tests.