Graeme Smith resists calls for South Africa changes
Smith is SA's youngest captain and has been in charge since March 2003
South Africa captain Graeme Smith stood by his team, despite the innings defeat against England in the second Test.
"We were outplayed in this game we've got to be honest with ourselves. We represent a lot of people's hopes and we just weren't good enough," he said.
"We've had one collapse. Disappointing as it is I don't think it's a call to suddenly make massive changes.
"We need to be precise in training sessions and make sure that areas we weren't up to standard are up a level."
The South Africans lost six wickets for 23 runs inside 12 overs on the fourth evening of the match and were all out for 133 before lunch on the final morning as they lost by an innings and 98 runs.
"It never looks good," conceded Smith. "Generally the top six has been solid but it's the creation of pressure England being able to attack, their bowlers running in and making it count in gloomy light and they bowled well.
"Maybe we got a little bit tentative and didn't commit to our shots as well as we have done but you have to congratulate Andrew Strauss and his team."
Smith was also full of praise for England spinner Graeme Swann, whose wicket tally in the series stands at 14 after taking 5-54, his fourth five-wicket Test haul.
"He utilised the conditions and his skill well, it is a bit disappointing we haven't played him better, it has been a strength of ours in the last two years how well we've played spin," added Smith.
"We played well in the sub-continent, won in Pakistan almost won in India, but he bowled well, used his angles created a lot of pressure, bowled behind an attack that has been very precise and kept us under pressure throughout."
Last winter South Africa moved above Australia at the top of the Test rankings after beating them 2-1 down under but lost top spot after being defeated 2-1 at home by the Australians in February and March.
The final Test in Australia and those three matches in South Africa were the only Tests the team played before the start of the current series, which is set to conclude in Johannesburg on 18 January.
"We haven't played the same amount of Test cricket this year and 2009 has not lived up to the hype we managed to build in 2008 and that's disappointing," stated Smith.
"As a team we reached a point and we haven't really been able to go on to the next level and that's something we've got to address as a unit."
Veteran fast bowler Makhaya Ntini is under pressure for his place in the team ahead of the third Test in Cape Town, which starts on 3 January, having taken only two wickets in the series.
"Makhaya would be the first to put his hand up and say he's been disappointed with the way he has bowled," said Smith.
"He comes with a lot of experience, he's performed really well for us over a period of time and we've given him all the support we can from behind the scenes. He's an important cog in our lives so we need to look at all those aspects going into Cape Town."
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