Anyone expecting - or praying - that the exodus of South African players to overseas clubs and continuing political turmoil in the sport there will bring them back to earth in Super 14 and Test rugby this year had best think again.

After a year in which they won the Super 14 - with both finalists, the Bulls and Sharks, coming from South Africa - and the World Cup in France, the "Rainbow Nation" is not expected to drop the ball. In the eyes of many, South African rugby has become the benchmark - if not, then at least rated as a force never to be underestimated again.

That is the prediction of those who count most - the players from Australia and New Zealand who, despite their high reckoning for South African rugby, are relishing the chance to try not only to reach that mark, but better it.

Waratahs captain Phil Waugh believes so, saying: "They snuck under the radar a little in Super 14 last year. Everyone is going to be treating them with lots more respect ... not that they didn't last year. But certainly, the size of their teams and history of the last 12 months - what they achieved - puts them up as the ones to be beat."

Agreeing with Waugh is one NSW teammate who should know something about South African rugby, Wallabies second-rower Dan Vickerman, who was born in South Africa and lived there until he moved to Australia in 2000.

"South Africa obviously are a very good rugby nation and a very proud rugby nation," the 52-Test veteran said. "To win a World Cup, the systems must be in place. That they had two teams in the Super 14 final is a huge achievement. With the Bulls being the reigning premiers, they will be the team to knock off. The Sharks also have a good squad, and Stormers a new coach in Rassie Erasmus [from the Cheetahs]. There is solid competition there.

"We have to focus on winning our home games and putting good pressure on teams when we play them away."

Vickerman, who will be playing his last season of Super 14 before moving to England, believes the New Zealand sides were strong last year even without their All Blacks for the first seven rounds due to their reconditioning program. But with all of them now back after a failed World Cup campaign that was more of an upset than the Wallabies' misadventure, it is not surprising Vickerman expects the Kiwis to add more balance to the Super 14 this year.

"Even without the All Blacks last year they were pretty good sides," said Vickerman, adding that the contest up front may even help Australian sides. "With the All Blacks back, and that they are fit and had a good off-season, they are going to be something. It will be a good challenge. We pride ourselves on being a good pack [at NSW]. That will be a good challenge because New Zealand and South Africa are among the best packs in the world."

Wallabies back-rower Rocky Elsom said the Springboks, Bulls and Sharks were all "dominant sides" last year. He cited their qualities as having a "great pack, great kickers, an excellent defensive line as well as attacking line".

However, Elsom believes South African rugby faces some hurdles that will limit the gains they have made. As with Vickerman, he cites the returning impact of the All Blacks for the entire Super 14 season as one obstacle.

"They are in a much better position than they ever have been at the start of a Super 14," Elsom said. "It will be a level playing field between them and the top New Zealand sides which didn't get their act together, were disjointed in how they played. The South Africans punished them for that and played a lot better."

At Test level, Elsom points to debate of the quota system for black players, which will certainly continue with the appointment of Peter de Villiers as the first black Springboks head coach.

"The Springboks will be a different kettle of fish this year because there has been a lot of changes. It will be interesting to see how they adapt," he said. "But they are probably used to it more than any country. If any players could deal with that type of turmoil it would be the South Africans. It is in their life over there."

In New Zealand, respect for the South Africans after their glory-filled year is as strong as the Australians' admiration; especially after their teams last year proved they can win away at Super 14 and Test level.

Last year, four of the five South African teams won a total of nine games in Australia or New Zealand.

"They are always tough to play over there. They proved last year they can win a few games on the road," said All Blacks and Crusaders five-eighth Dan Carter, who also warned that the South Africans would not get it all their own way this year.

"This year is a clean slate. There are new faces with all three countries getting a chance to push and get names recognised," Carter said.

Carter's captain at the All Blacks and the Crusaders, openside breakaway Richie McCaw, still believes that a little luck played into the hands of the South African sides last year - at Super 14 level, anyhow.

"It is hard to know," said McCaw, when asked if South Africa was now the major powerbroker in Super rugby.

"In the past, even though Australia and New Zealand dominated [Super 14], they have never been easy games [against South African sides]. They always have a tough trip away. But to play over there is tough regardless."

McCaw said last year's Super 14 could have ended with Kiwi sides hosting the semi-finals had the Crusaders not lost in rounds 13 and 14 to the Brumbies (15-6) and Chiefs (30-24), rather than play them in South Africa.

"It was close," he said. "We made a couple of mistakes near the end of the competition where we could have been playing semis at home, and with the South Africans coming here. With the Blues it was the same."