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Naas: Keep Div in Bok plans

Cape Town - Peter de Villiers's experience is too valuable for him to be summarily discarded as a member of the Springbok coaching panel, believes former Bok flyhalf Naas Botha, who told the Eye Witness News website that he saw no reason why De Villiers could not stay on.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) will announce the name of the new Springbok coach on January 27, with Bulls Director of Rugby Heyneke Meyer and Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal the frontrunners.

SARU Chief Executive Officer Jurie Roux said late last year that De Villiers would be on the shortlist of "preferred candidates" as the incumbent Springbok coach.

"I would keep Peter as part of the team, because he must have learnt quite a number of things in the four years that he's been there," Botha said.

"You can't just discard all that experience."

Botha added that the next coach must learn from the mistakes of the past.

"I think we've made mistakes. Nick (Mallett) made a mistake when he fired Gary Teichmann before the 1999 World Cup. When you select a Springbok side, do yourself a favour, pick the guys who are in form and that's the end of it."

 
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