Forward show pleases Smit

South Africa captain John Smit paid tribute to Frans Steyn following the Tri Nations-clinching victory over New Zealand in Hamilton.

Steyn booted three monster penalties in the first-half to take the pressure off the Springboks pack and ultimately set the tone for a 32-29 success.

The full-back could have been playing his last match for South Africa after signing to play in the French Top 14, and Smit acknowledged the player will be missed.

"It was actually by chance that I hung around at captain's (run) on Friday and kept watching him," said Smit.

"He's not a goal-kicker he's a rocket launcher. Sometimes it's a little bit off target. Today I said to him to have a memorable game so that everyone will miss him.

"We didn't have a lot of time in the All Blacks half in the first half and we still got nine points out of it."

South Africa dominated the lineouts with Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha leading the way, while Smit proved his critics wrong with a strong performance at the scrum.

"I'd be surprised if we didn't (dominate) because we put a lot of work into the lineout," he said.

"We spend as much time on opposition ball as we do on our ball and if we didn't get that return it would be pretty frustrating for us. We're happy so far that we can reap the rewards from the work we've put in.

"It was reasonably satisfying personal moment. I felt confident going into this game. The talk from outside was a huge motivating factor. It got not only myself geared up and angry but it also got the guys around me geared up.

"The guys did a hell of a lot to back me up and the scrums were a massive success tonight.

"With the extra two games it's a hell of a competition to win. To have been able to do it (beat the All Blacks) three times in a row in one year is a satisfying result for the work that has been put in and the group of guys that we've got."