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Coetzee: Boks will 'give everything'

Johannesburg - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has encouraged his players to play for the jersey in 2017. 

After a woeful 2016 that saw the Boks win just four of their 12 fixtures, Coetzee is under pressure to deliver results this year, starting with a three-match home series against France in June. 

While he is reluctant to give any guarantees in terms of results or playing style, one thing Coetzee can promise is passion from his players.

"What I can tell you is that whenever the Springbok team runs out, I would like the public of South Africa to see that they leave nothing out there and that they give everything," he said after a three-day training camp in Johannesburg this week.

"They must show how they respect the jersey and do it for their country."

On playing style, Coetzee said that his side needed to get the balance right between playing attractive and winning rugby.

"Test matches ... there is only one game plan and that's winning rugby. You've got to build pressure in Test match rugby," the coach said.

"I would like us to get that balance right. I love our Super Rugby teams now playing with ball-in-hand. It's great because heir attacking skills are developing. I will never discourage that. But in Test match rugby there has got to be the right mix."

The Boks play their first Test of the year against the French at Loftus on June 10.

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