Durban - Peter de Villiers has indicated that he will step down as the Springboks coach after a challenging four-year tenure.
De Villiers addressed the media following the Boks defeat to Australia and exit from the World Cup on Sunday.
"It was a brilliant journey, something that none of you guys can take away from me. There is a time to come and a time to go, so I think the journey for me is over. I wanted to be the best me that I could be. The way that I am is the way that I want to be remembered," said De Villiers.
De Villiers who took over the reins from world-cup winning coach Jake White is on a contract that comes to an end after the World Cup.
Bok captain John Smit had only kind words for his coach. "We've had a really good four years together. That's been pioneered by Peter," he said.
"Even the bad days were good. He has given us leeway and space and tightened that space when we took advantage of it. I'm disappointed to end it like this. He has made us enjoy every moment. He has been a great man."
Smit, who will play his club rugby for Saracens in the Aviva Premiership this season, refused to let the quarter-final loss take away from his time as the Springboks skipper.
"It would be silly to take that seven years [as captain] and judge it by what happened today.
"I have been blessed to be in charge of these guys and run out with them and blessed to be captain of the Springboks.
"I think it's not important how I want to be remembered. People always talk about a legacy but for me it has been a privilege to be able to play with the guys that have made my career what it was.
"I am devastated today. It's the end of a chapter and I am proud of the guys, I have played with and really proud to have been a Springbok," said Smit.
