SYDNEY (Reuters)
South African captain Shaun Pollock has said his team had nothing but pride to play for in the final Test against Australia after surrendering the series with two heavy defeats.

Pollock said his battered side, who left home more than a month ago entertaining genuine thoughts of replacing Australia as the world's best team, had been crushed by their defeats but were no longer under pressure after conceding the series.

"We're a proud sporting nation and we don't like getting beat," Pollock said.

"The pressure is obviously off now we've lost the Test series but the pride of performance as sports people is still there and that's what the guys will be looking to."

Pollock said the South Africans were approaching the final match starting on Wednesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground with a new frame of mind.

"I think you play your best sport if you're relaxed, that's obviously the environment that you perform your best in and that's what we're trying to create," Pollock said.

"Maybe the guys have been a bit uptight but this is the ideal opportunity to play with a bit more freedom."

Pollock said the Proteas were bitterly disappointed with the way they performed in the first two Tests, losing the first in Adelaide by 246 runs and the second in Melbourne by nine wickets.

The allrounder even admitted his team had collapsed under the weight of their own expectations but had decided after a team meeting not to dwell on their defeats before the final Test.

"The series is over but it's a brand new year," Pollock said.

"I think the guys have realised that you can either sit here and feel sorry for yourself ... or else you can pick yourself up and move on and we're looking to do that."

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