Cape Town - Stormers coach Allister Coetzee says former Bok coach Jake White's comments that Australian rugby players are smarter than their South African counterparts "must be taken with a pinch of salt."
White, who is currently the Brumbies mentor, coached the Springboks to World Cup glory in France in 2007.
He says his current crop of players are smarter and more hard-working than any team he has coached.
"I am not saying that South African players are dumb, it’s just that these guys are a lot more educated about a lot of things," White said in an interview with Forbes magazine.
Coetzee, who was White's assistant coach at the Boks from 2004 to 2007, believes his words cannot be taken too seriously.
"I know we are 11th on the log, but Jake had a lot to say in that week leading up to the Stormers game. He spoke about the Stormers backs being too small and look what happened.
"We scored four tries and won the game. Every person has his own opinion and you just have to take things with a pinch of salt," Coetzee said on Wednesday after he was asked what he thought about White's comments.
"If you feel a bit bad about that then you will only have yourself to blame.
"You can never allow what someone else says to make you believe what you really are. South Africa won the British and Irish Lions with a series victory whereas the Aussies are currently 1-0 down in the series."
Coetzee also denied reports that the Cape franchise are looking to sign newly-capped Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl.
"I don't know where that information comes from. Agents could possibly have spoken to Rob (Wagner, Stormers CEO).
"It's the silly season and it does not necessarily mean that players are coming to Cape Town.
"I will only say so if it is in black and white.
"But I must obviously look where I can replace players like Bryan Habana, Andries Bekker and Dewaldt Duvenage who will definitely be leaving."
White, who is currently the Brumbies mentor, coached the Springboks to World Cup glory in France in 2007.
He says his current crop of players are smarter and more hard-working than any team he has coached.
"I am not saying that South African players are dumb, it’s just that these guys are a lot more educated about a lot of things," White said in an interview with Forbes magazine.
Coetzee, who was White's assistant coach at the Boks from 2004 to 2007, believes his words cannot be taken too seriously.
"I know we are 11th on the log, but Jake had a lot to say in that week leading up to the Stormers game. He spoke about the Stormers backs being too small and look what happened.
"We scored four tries and won the game. Every person has his own opinion and you just have to take things with a pinch of salt," Coetzee said on Wednesday after he was asked what he thought about White's comments.
"If you feel a bit bad about that then you will only have yourself to blame.
"You can never allow what someone else says to make you believe what you really are. South Africa won the British and Irish Lions with a series victory whereas the Aussies are currently 1-0 down in the series."
Coetzee also denied reports that the Cape franchise are looking to sign newly-capped Springbok scrumhalf Piet van Zyl.
"I don't know where that information comes from. Agents could possibly have spoken to Rob (Wagner, Stormers CEO).
"It's the silly season and it does not necessarily mean that players are coming to Cape Town.
"I will only say so if it is in black and white.
"But I must obviously look where I can replace players like Bryan Habana, Andries Bekker and Dewaldt Duvenage who will definitely be leaving."