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Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Jake White has called for SARU to consider having a permanent SA "A" side playing regularly.
Springbok coach Peter de Villers has been criticised heavily this year for fielding a so-called "B-team" in recent away Test matches against Australia and New Zealand.
The second-string Boks were embarrassed on both occasions, losing 39-20 to the Wallabies in Sydney and then 40-7 to the All Blacks in Wellington.
And White - currently the coach of Australian Super Rugby franchise, the Brumbies - believes having a permanent SA "A" side (effectively a so-called "B"-team) would give the coaches the opportunity of seeing certain combinations play at an international level without trying them out at Test level from the get go.
"An SA A side would be a great benefit to our rugby. It would mean you don't give colours away easily while still giving guys opportunities to play international rugby," said White on his website, RugbyXV.
"It also gives new coaches opportunities and the opportunity to try things and not having to do that in a Test. It is something SARU should look at."
Springbok coach Peter de Villers has been criticised heavily this year for fielding a so-called "B-team" in recent away Test matches against Australia and New Zealand.
The second-string Boks were embarrassed on both occasions, losing 39-20 to the Wallabies in Sydney and then 40-7 to the All Blacks in Wellington.
And White - currently the coach of Australian Super Rugby franchise, the Brumbies - believes having a permanent SA "A" side (effectively a so-called "B"-team) would give the coaches the opportunity of seeing certain combinations play at an international level without trying them out at Test level from the get go.
"An SA A side would be a great benefit to our rugby. It would mean you don't give colours away easily while still giving guys opportunities to play international rugby," said White on his website, RugbyXV.
"It also gives new coaches opportunities and the opportunity to try things and not having to do that in a Test. It is something SARU should look at."
