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Cape Town - Former Springbok coach Jake White says not many Boks would get his nod for a current World XV in 2011.
Buy The Jake White Story: In Black and White
An under-strength Springbok side had a disastrous start to their 2011 campaign, losing 39-20 against Australia and then going down 40-7 to New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.
But the Boks should be bolstered in the next few weeks with the return of several of their seasoned campaigners from injury, and should field a different team for the World Cup in New Zealand.
However, White - who was recently announced as the new coach of Australian Super Rugby franchise, the Brumbies - says he would struggle to find a spot for any current South African player if he had the chance to pick a World XV.
"I'd say that not many are there at the moment, and if they are, they're just edging in. Four years ago there was no debate Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, and Jaque Fourie were viewed in that esteem. In 2007 eight of our Boks were in the World XV, and that puts things into perspective. That's the challenge for this World Cup, to get the Boks to that level," said White on his website, RugbyXV.
The Springbok team will assemble in Durban on Sunday ahead of their Tri-Nations clash with Australia next Saturday.
Buy The Jake White Story: In Black and White
An under-strength Springbok side had a disastrous start to their 2011 campaign, losing 39-20 against Australia and then going down 40-7 to New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.
But the Boks should be bolstered in the next few weeks with the return of several of their seasoned campaigners from injury, and should field a different team for the World Cup in New Zealand.
However, White - who was recently announced as the new coach of Australian Super Rugby franchise, the Brumbies - says he would struggle to find a spot for any current South African player if he had the chance to pick a World XV.
"I'd say that not many are there at the moment, and if they are, they're just edging in. Four years ago there was no debate Fourie du Preez, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, and Jaque Fourie were viewed in that esteem. In 2007 eight of our Boks were in the World XV, and that puts things into perspective. That's the challenge for this World Cup, to get the Boks to that level," said White on his website, RugbyXV.
The Springbok team will assemble in Durban on Sunday ahead of their Tri-Nations clash with Australia next Saturday.
