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Johannesburg - As Springbok coach Allister Coetzee plots the way forward in 2017, he does so having felt what it was like to be at the bottom of the barrel in 2016.
Coetzee led the Boks to just four wins from 12 in his first year in charge - a return that will never be acceptable for Springbok supporters.
Having announced his squad for three Test matches against France on Tuesday, Coetzee said afterwards that he had taken on some key lessons from last year.
"I'm never too old to learn," he told media in Johannesburg.
"What I have learnt in my career as coach is that you have got to reward form and that is exactly what I've done."
Coetzee made particular reference to a couple of uncapped Lions players who have been included.
"I've rewarded form and players like Ross Cronje has shown consistent form," he said.
"If we look at the fullback position there were other candidates ... SP Marais, Clayton Blommetjies ... but consistently, not just this year but over a long period of time, Andries Coetzee is the answer for me.
"Form is based on the confidence of a player so I've also rewarded confident players."
The first Test takes place on June 10 in Pretoria.
The Boks will gather in Plettenberg Bay following this weekend's Super Rugby action.
