Faf du Plessis was surprised by Australia’s antics in the field during the Test series decider, but is adamant there remains mutual respect between the cricket sides.
Du Plessis was sledged throughout the majority of his innings on day five of the thrilling third Test in Cape Town, having earlier likened the Australians to a “pack of dogs” and questioned their ability to attain reverse-swing so early in the first innings.
Du Plessis was subjected to barking by the Australians and taunted about his ball-tampering charge last year.
Having sparked such a reaction from the tourists with his most recent comments to the media, du Plessis was somewhat more guarded in the lead-up to Sunday’s Twenty20 clash in Port Elizabeth.
“Australia play their cricket really hard,” the Proteas T20 captain said, describing the loss as emotional.
“I was surprised by the way they reacted on the field.
“But they got a sniff and they saw how important it was to play with real intensity.
“Intensity comes in different forms. Our intensity came from Dale Steyn’s spell in the second Test, when that bowling performance and the skill of that lifted us as a team.
“Obviously they used something different in the third Test to get their intensity up.
“But that makes you play your best cricket. So whatever floats your boat.”
The vanquished England side of the 2013-14 Ashes joined Australia for some affable drinks in the SCG dressing rooms at the end of an equally heated series.
It’s understood the Proteas opted against a pow wow following Graeme Smith’s 117th and final Test, but du Plessis suggested relations between the two teams are fine.
“There’s a huge amount of respect between the two countries,” he said.
“Michael Clarke sums it up beautifully when he speaks about South Africa. He’s got so much respect for us, and we’ve got the same for them.
“We gave a really good fight. Like Graeme said, credit to Australia they played better cricket than us.”
The Proteas’ T20 squad assembled for two days in the bush after the Test loss, learning more of the country’s chequered history and clearing their minds for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“For the guys who played the Tests, it’s mentally draining,” du Plessis said.
“So it was really important that we could just relax a bit and we did that and had a nice little camp for the World Cup.”