Springboks coach Harry Viljoen admitted his side would have to improve for the matches against Wales and England after a nail-biting win in Ireland.

The Boks were level at 18-18 until Braam van Straaten's penalty and a try by Andre Venter preserved an unbeaten record against the Irish stretching back to 1965.

South Africa play Wales in Cardiff on Sunday and England the following weekend, and Viljoen admitted: ``We watched England's game and for some reason we were cheering on Australia. It's clear the northern hemisphere is catching up with the southern.

``It's time for us to do our homework and improve. I was very impressed with Ireland and their back play surprised me - they outplayed us there.

``If they had had the ball we had it could have been devastating. It is going to be tough next week against Wales and if we don't improve then we are going to be in trouble."

Ireland skipper Keith Wood admitted that Ireland has missed a golden opportunity to beat South Africa for only the second time in 14 attempts.

``When we got to 18-all I thought we could win the game,'' said the disappointed hooker. ``We were looking to get the ball down their half and score a try or maybe force them to concede a penalty.

``We really did think we could win this game and it's galling that we did not do so. The players are very disappointed.

``It was a missed opportunity. But 12 months ago if we had said we could beat South Africa then people would have laughed at us. It just shows the big step we have taken in the last year.

``On another day the ball could have run kindly for us and we would have won. We are not that far from where we want to be, but there are still things we have to improve on.''

Ireland coach Warren Gatland said: ``I am very proud of the players, but disappointed with the result.

``Our dressing room looks like a battlefield. A number of the players took heavy knocks. It is unbelievably physical the way the South Africans take the ball into contact.''

Gatland said full-back Girvan Dempsey could be sidelined for a `long time' after suffering what is believed to be severe ligament damage to his ankle having initially thought it had been broken in the closing minutes of the match.