Springbok superstar Bryan Habana is lauding the praise on Jake White ahead of the coach’s final test match in charge of South Africa against Wales this weekend.

"He has taken us on an unbelievable journey," Habana said.

"Jake brought us back from the depths of despair in 2003 and put a few traditions back into place."

"He has left the Springbok team in a better state than he received it."

"As any player or coach wants to do, you definitely want to leave something behind that is worth leaving behind."

"One of the most important things Jake brought back was the ethics."

"In the Springboks code of conduct, it says you always put the Springbok team above your own ambition, and that was something every player involved over the last four years has stuck to and believed in."

"It is something so special, and something I would not like to see lost in the future."

Smit, who has been released by his new club Clermont Auvergne to lead the Springboks against Wales, added: "It has been an incredibly enjoyable four years."

"From the start, we really felt he was bringing structure and an ability for us to turn things around and take the Springboks to where they belong."

"It is a sad moment now, having come to the end of the road."

"The repayment was being able to fulfil the expectation he had himself and the expectation he put on us in terms of being able to win the World Cup this year."

"This game, hopefully, will be a celebration of what Jake has given to South Africa for the last four years."

South Africa's World Cup-winning skipper John Smit also hopes Saturday's test match against Wales in Cardiff can be a 'celebration' of White's achievements.

Smit leads a team that contains just one new cap - No.8 Ryan Kankowski.

Smit and Habana, meanwhile, will be joined by fellow World Cup final starters JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, CJ Van Der Linde, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith.

Notable absentees are fullback Percy Montgomery, the halfback/first five combination of Fourie du Preez and Butch James, lock Victor Matfield and loose forward Danie Rossouw.

"It looked like it might be a bit of an inexperienced team, but when you put it together, there is enough there for us to feel confident we can get a result," White said.

"I know this is the swansong for me, but I am not unhappy about it. I am very content about where we are as a group."

"The brief when I took over as coach was that we wanted to be world number one and world champions, and I've been lucky enough and privileged enough to be part of it."

"It's great for me it (final test) is in a massive stadium like the Millennium Stadium and in a rugby country like Wales.