Allister doesn’t know where ‘Japan rumours’ started

PRETORIA: While rumours persist about the future of Springbok coach Allister Coetzee, the man in the eye of the storm is not looking beyond Saturday’s clash against Wales.

Coetzee has laughed off rumours that he is already in talks with Japanese outfit the Canon Eagles and instead said he would be going to Japan “in 2019” to the World Cup as Springbok coach. “I honestly don’t know where the rumours start and I would like to know the source. It is just unfortunate,” Coetzee said.

And while Coetzee feels the guillotine hanging over his head, he insists on fielding his “strongest side” against Wales at the Principality Stadium.

What Coetzee sees as his strongest side could further infuriate die-hard Springbok supporters who have been calling for change within the playing personnel to get the team to play the kind of running rugby they want to see.

Although he faces some tough decisions about his loose forwards, Coetzee gave little away in terms of possible changes to his team.

“I will select my best available team against a quality Welsh outfit. We must make sure that we select a team that will fit to our plan and against the opposition that we are playing. So the best possible team will be selected,” Coetzee said from Cardiff yesterday.

The Springboks may have brought some light into a tour after consecutive wins against

We will be playing against a very good Welsh team with a fantastic coaching staff and experienced international players.

France and Italy after starting off with a record defeat against Ireland but they will be up against a formidable Wales outfit which will be seeking retribution from their defeat against the All Blacks after threatening to pull the carpet from under the feet of the world champions.

As much as the Springboks showed some improvements against an average Italian outfit, the truth of the matter is that they will have to be far better in all departments if they are to beat Wales at home for the first time in four years.

“We will be playing against a very good Welsh team with a fantastic coaching staff and experienced international players. We know we have to be at our best again to keep on with the improvement in our game,” Coetzee concluded.