Impressive back-to-back Test victories over Italy and France are merely building blocks for the new-look South African team, coach Nick Mallett said yesterday. The Springboks, looking to seal their second straight series win in France in today's second Test in Paris, are still only scratching at the surface of their ability, Mallett believes: "This team can still improve by 20 or 30 per cent, given time and given the confidence of playing together."

"I've been really pleasantly surprised by this team and I'm happy to say I've got the selections pretty much spot on. The Test team have practised well and are a bunch of very determined players."

With wing James Small the only survivor from the South African squad which returned to international rugby in 1992, the Springboks are still in a transition stage as Mallett seeks to impose his values on the squad.

Today's game will be their sternest examination yet on a tough five-Test tour that sees matches with England and Scotland lurking around the corner.

Not only are Five Nations champions France seeking to end a run of four straight losses against the world champions, they also will be motivated by playing their final match at the historic Parc des Princes. From next year, internationals in Paris will be played at the new Stade de France.

The Springbok team today will not be the one Mallett wanted. Fullback Justin Swart is still injured while scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen has had to return home and will be replaced by Werner Swanepoel, who has never started a Test match before.

"Losing Joost is a huge blow to South African rugby, but Werner is a very confident young guy and we believe he will do well," said Mallett. "The more opportunities he gets to play at the top level the more prepared he will be if we should need him in the World Cup. I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes."

Flanker Johan Erasmus, who is undergoing treatment for a shoulder injury that put his back out of alignment, has recovered well and is almost certain to play.

Of more concern to Mallett is how his team will be able to lift themselves mentally for an international on the third of five straight Saturdays.

"To lift the mental level of a rugby player three or four times in a row is always difficult," he said. "It's hard to raise yourself week in, week out, for what are very tough Test matches. Maybe not enough thought is going into the amount of Tests players have to play."

Captain Gary Teichmann, meanwhile, has told his players they need to be more ruthless. They won the first Test 36-32 in Lyon last weekend, but faded alarmingly in the final 20 minutes as the French fought back and almost grabbed an unlikely win.

"We must learn from the All Blacks," he said. "When you are up like that you've got to be able to finish it all off by putting more points on the board."

France will go into the match with two changes to the side which lost in Lyon. Giant lock Olivier Merle replaces Fabien Pelous, adding power but reducing mobility, with David Venditti coming onto the right wing as a replacement for Laurent Leflamande.

"Merle will be the guy who sets up the drives," said Teichmann. "But we believe we've got an answer to him, and he certainly won't be as mobile as Pelous."

With the South Africans aiming for the fifth straight victory over the Five Nations champions and boasting an amazing 10-1-1 record in Tests on French soil, the home side will doubtless be looking for revenge.

"There is no doubt they will be very emotional," said Teichmann. "More so because it will be the final Test at the stadium. It won't be easy for us."