Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers, who is currently on a tour to address the players and coaching staff of all five of South Africa’s Super 14 franchises, will visit England coach Brian Ashton on his upcoming overseas tour — but he won’t have contact with any of the Springboks currently playing overseas.
Instead, De Villiers will contact the presidents and chairpersons of clubs where those players are currently plying their trade with a view to negotiate their release when they are needed for national duty.
In addition to the meeting with England’s Ashton, De Villiers is also trying to set up meetings with the other Six Nations coaches for what is understood to be nothing more than ”courtesy” calls.
De Villiers leaves for overseas on Friday February 8.
He met Super 14 champions the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Tuesday, and repeated to the players that they all stood an equal chance to be selected for the Springbok side.
He then had a meeting with the Bulls coaching staff, where he discussed the resting of a number of players during the champions’ Super 14 campaign to ensure that they are not overplayed in the run-up to the 13 Tests awaiting the Springboks this year. — Sapa