Hoskins insists on full-strength Springboks

South Africa rugby chief Oregan Hoskins is adamant that current coach Peter de Villiers will not emulate predecessor Jake White's tactics in the build-up to next year's World Cup.

The former Springboks boss famously decided against selecting over 20 of his regular players for the away leg of their 2007 Tri-Nations campaign, prompting an outcry from New Zealand and Australia. Although controversial, the move proved a masterstroke as White led the team to the world title in France later that year.

With a hefty 14-Test schedule in 2010, calls have already been made for several key players to be rested, especially with the closing stages of the gruelling Super 14 so close to the start of the international season.

But the South African Rugby Union president has ruled out wholesale changes, saying: "The players will get the rest they require when they require it.

"Medical advice will take priority to ensure our players are in the best possible condition to defend the World Cup.

"And this will be completely on an individual basis.

"I don't see us taking out a group of players en masse at one time. Instead, there will be rotation."

The news will be a welcome boost for the Welsh Rugby Union especially, following reports since the confirmation of the June 5 Test in Cardiff, to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Millennium Stadium, that the Springboks will field an under-strength team.

Hoskins also expects Sanzar, the body that overseas the South African, New Zealand and Australian rugby unions, to understand what his organisation is doing.

He continued in the Weekend Argus: "They (New Zealand and Australia) will do the same. I have no doubt about that. Look, at any one time there will be first-choice Springboks playing."

Date published : 15 Mar 201016:29:03

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