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Cape Town - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer says he will continue picking overseas-based players for his side as he builds towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The Boks beat France 19-10 in Paris over the weekend to finish the year with 10 victories out of 12 - a success ratio of 83%.
Meyer was however criticised in some quarters for bringing back some older players plying their trade overseas.
But the coach responded by saying how vital they are to the team's cause.
"There is often talk about how South Africa has the most and best players, but that's not true. If that was the case, then we would win the Junior World Cup year after year," Meyer told Die Burger's website.
"I wouldn't be able to manage without guys like JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez and Jaque Fourie."
According to the SA Rugbymag website, Meyer also confirmed that Japan-based Boks (Pietersen, Fourie and Du Preez) won't play all the Tests next year as the Japanese league is only 12 games per season and clubs can ill-afford to lose their top players.
There were 10 overseas-based players in the original Springbok squad for their latest year-end tour.
They are: Pietersen, Du Preez, Fourie, Habana, Steyn, Bakkies Botha, Ruan Pienaar, Zane Kirchner, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Francois Louw.
Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak was also later added when Du Preez was not made available for the Test against France.
The Boks beat France 19-10 in Paris over the weekend to finish the year with 10 victories out of 12 - a success ratio of 83%.
Meyer was however criticised in some quarters for bringing back some older players plying their trade overseas.
But the coach responded by saying how vital they are to the team's cause.
"There is often talk about how South Africa has the most and best players, but that's not true. If that was the case, then we would win the Junior World Cup year after year," Meyer told Die Burger's website.
"I wouldn't be able to manage without guys like JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez and Jaque Fourie."
According to the SA Rugbymag website, Meyer also confirmed that Japan-based Boks (Pietersen, Fourie and Du Preez) won't play all the Tests next year as the Japanese league is only 12 games per season and clubs can ill-afford to lose their top players.
There were 10 overseas-based players in the original Springbok squad for their latest year-end tour.
They are: Pietersen, Du Preez, Fourie, Habana, Steyn, Bakkies Botha, Ruan Pienaar, Zane Kirchner, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Francois Louw.
Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak was also later added when Du Preez was not made available for the Test against France.
