Victor Matfield (Gallo)

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Pretoria - South Africa lock Victor Matfield will end his international career at next year's Rugby World Cup and insisted on Friday the struggling Springboks "will run their own race" ahead of the tournament in New Zealand.

"The (2011) World Cup, yes I think that will be the last for me," Matfield said on the eve of his 100th Test at his home ground, Loftus Versfeld. "Nothing more than that."

Despite the celebrations surrounding Matfield's 100th game, South Africa heads to Saturday's Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Pretoria still searching for its first win of this year's competition.

Matfield said the South African team is "desperate" and "irritated" after four successive losses in the Tri-Nations.

The Springboks fell to a third straight defeat to New Zealand last weekend after a late surge from the All Blacks, spoiling captain John Smit's 100th Test.

The unexpected losing streak has thrown the reigning world champion off course in the buildup to next year's World Cup, but the 33-year-old Matfield, a veteran of two World Cups and a winner in 2007, says South Africa won't panic.

"I think they (New Zealand) are playing very well at the moment but we are happy with what we are doing and where we are going so I don't think we must worry too much about them," Matfield said.

"Let them run their own race and we will run our own race. We are happy with the things we are doing and the vision we have up to the next World Cup."

Having established himself as the world's best lineout jumper, Matfield will likely be crucial to South Africa's World Cup hopes in 2011 in what will now be his swan song.

But first he says South Africa needs to forget past results and get back to winning ways this weekend against Australia.

"The Tri-Nations has gone ... but you are still playing for your country so the pride is there," Matfield said. "We must put everything behind us.

"Let's look forward, we can still win the Mandela Cup (against Australia). We can still get things back on track."

The big lock, who made his debut in 2001, said his career highs so far were winning the 2007 World Cup, the series victory over the British and Irish Lions and beating New Zealand in three successive games in 2009.

He has also won two Tri-Nations titles, and three Super 14 titles with the Bulls.

He pointed to the 2003 World Cup, where South Africa was knocked out in the quarterfinals in its worst ever showing at a World Cup, as the "worst time."

"Losing in the quarterfinal and coming back to South Africa to see the disappointment in everyone's eyes. That was probably the lowest point," Matfield said.

Matfield said he has no regrets, and is still enjoying playing after nearly 10 years in international rugby.

"I like playing rugby so I would like to play another 10 games this year," he said. I'm feeling good, I'm enjoying my rugby. I think I'm going alright."

Teammates paid tribute to the popular Springbok vice-captain earlier this week.

Wing Bryan Habana said: "Victor is someone that a lot of rugby players worldwide look up to in terms of the standards he sets himself both on and off the pitch. He is someone I have an unbelievable amount of respect for."

"I think he is in a class of his own," said No 8 Pierre Spies. "He's a great example as a leader and it just shows you why he is regarded as the best lineout lock, and I think he is the best No 5 in the world."

The South African Rugby Union will celebrate Matfield's 100th Test by handing out 30 000 Matfield masks to fans at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The normally fearless Matfield said 30 000 replicas of his face "was a bit scary."

"The guys (South African players) already had them on yesterday ... but it will be nice to run out at Loftus and see a few of those masks on the people," he said.