No players will be rested for the Springboks' tour at the end of the year - and the team of 37 players will be selected purely on merit.

That was the message from Springbok coach Peter de Villiers at a media feedback conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday where the year-end tour to France, Italy and Ireland was discussed.

"At this moment, we are not looking to rest anyone," De Villiers said. He emphasised that there were no worrying injury problems in the squad, but did point out that it could be too early to say as things like the players' "body's talking" could have an influence on that aspect of the team selection.

De Villiers also intimated that there are concerns with the conditioning of one or two players.

"One or two need time to condition themselves to the level where they can perform at their best. I'll have to talk to them about it, and if they don't buy in we'll have to force them ... but we'll have to keep them fresh for 2011," he said.

With the Springboks playing two non-Tests in their five match tour, the Test XV will not travel around the UK for the two club matches against Premiership champions Leicester and the South African-flavoured Saracens.

The 22 players involved in those matches will, however, have the opportunity to play themselves into Test contention on what de Villiers described as "an old-fashioned tour."

Asked whether he would give in to possible external pressure to include more Black players in the squad, De Villiers indicated that the team would be selected on merit because "players want to be judged by their ability and not their colour. If a guy knows he's there for the colour of his skin, he won't die for his country.

"We are proud South Africans who want to be judged by our ability."

De Villiers made no bones about his admiration for Ruan Pienaar as a player and still believes he is a flyhalf - but the position seems to have been secured by Morne Steyn.

Pienaar, said De Villiers, was not his team's kicker in the Super 14 "and that didn't help him. Lots of players (in the past) didn't make it because of team dynamics.

"Sometimes, I cannot go on my preferences and have to put the team first, and the team is comfortable with where we are," De Villiers explained.

The Bok coach also had a warning for the Boks' opponents: "The Boks are only playing at 75 percent of their ability. From now on they will aim to put in that killer blow which could've sunk their opponents in their previous matches."

The Springbok side for the tour will be announced on 31 October after the Currie Cup final.

Tour schedule:
Friday, 6 November: v Leicester, Welford Road, Leicester
Friday, 13 November: v France, Toulouse
Tuesday, 17 November: v Saracens, Wembley Stadium, London
Saturday, 21 November: v Italy, Udine
Saturday, 28 November: v Ireland, Croke Park, Dublin.

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