All about maintaining a consistent policy for de Villiers

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers claims maintaining consistency was a key part of the decision to continue with the same group of players that overcame the British and Irish Lions for their opening Tri-Nations fixture against New Zealand in Bloemfontein on July 25.

The Springbok selectors yesterday kept faith with 22 of the men that did duty in the 2-1 series win over the touring Lions, with Jannie du Plessis the only new name added to the 23-man list.

“The Lions series was ideal preparation for the Tri-Nations,” De Villiers said. “The core squad that secured the series win in the first two Tests has great potential as a unit and we believe that they have much more to offer.