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Boks will miss du Preez

South Africa's loss of Fourie du Preez and Frans Steyn is seen as a big impediment to its ability to retain the Tri Nations title.

Friday, 02 July 2010

Sportal.co.nz

South Africa's loss of Fourie du Preez and Frans Steyn is seen as a big impediment to its ability to retain the Tri Nations title.

Former Australian coach and South African assistant-coach Eddie Jones said it was no coincidence that the six Tests where Steyn started at fullback last year, the Boks had won.

"Frans is one of the most gifted players in the world, and to leave him out when he's available, you must think you're going pretty well," Jones told keo.co.za.

Steyn was left out of the side after coach Peter de Villiers said he had suffered because European club competitions wasn't as fast as Super rugby.

Jones said of Steyn, "He's a big guy who can kick the ball as long as anyone, is reasonably safe under the high ball and he has something about him.

"[Zane] Kirchner still hasn't proved that he's a Test player although he's played very well in the Super 14, and he tends to have that habit of making two or three iffy mistakes a game. [Gio] Aplon is a very good little player but he's probably a better winger than fullback at Test level."

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