Pieter Jordaan

Johannesburg - South Africa will have to engage "low and quickly" if they hope for success in the scrums against France in Toulouse on Friday night.

However, Pieter de Villiers, the Capetonian who spent 10 years in France’s front row, has a very encouraging answer for what the Bok scrum’s most important attribute should be.

“They should not change much. The foundation is there and they have enough players with skills and power,” he said.

De Villiers, who has been living in South Africa for the past year since retiring from rugby in 2008, assisted the Springbok coaching staff with his scrumming knowledge on Tuesday.

“You can’t change their scrumming overnight. We focused more on the psychological aspects before the Test and also looked at technical matters, like hitting in a little lower and to get out of the blocks quicker,” said the friendly Malmesbury-born man.

He and his French wife and two children now live in Cape Town and he is involved in property development with his brother in Yzerfontein on the West Coast.

De Villiers, who still travels to France occasionally to look after his wine interests, will also share his knowledge in South Africa as the new coach of Villagers in Cape Town.

He says he is not leaking French secrets to the Boks and he has simply focused on the scrumming of the South Africans.

“I have not been involved with France for the past two years and there is a new coach (Marc Lievremont), but the scrumming has been good over the years and it is a source of pride for France,” he said.

“France’s entire pack has experience and they will climb in physically in every department from the first minute.”

De Villiers believes the French also have the right loose forward combination, but also recognises the quality of the South African fetchers.

“The French pack can stand its ground against any team in the world. France may have less experience at the back than a few years ago, but they are talented and powerful players,” he said.

De Villiers is looking forward to a “tough Test” and believes the inclusion of several Toulouse players who will be playing in front of their home crowd, could be decisive. However, he also thinks the Boks’ experience at the back could be a factor.

He said that he felt honoured when he was asked last Thursday by Bok forwards coach Gary Gold to help with a scrumming session.

“It’s not about betraying the French combinations. I’m a coach now and want to share my knowledge,” he said.

Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and John Smit will form the Boks' front row and while he has respect for their ability, De Villiers views the French front row of Fabien Barcella, William Servat and Nicolas Mas as an experienced unit.

De Villiers, 37, played 69 Tests for France since 1999 and represented Stade Francais for 13 years.