Intro:

South Africa's Springboks continued their World Cup preparations with a training session in Johannesburg on Monday (4th May).

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Heyneke Meyer, Springboks coach:

"Yes, I'm very happy. Being out of job for five months, or I haven't been involved with the players for five months, is quite some time. The one thing that's really been impressive is the attitude of the players, the passion and the excitement and I think World Cup years are just different. There's a lot of excitement. For me it's a big honour being back. It's so great to be involved with the players again and there's a lot of competition, they know that. So great to be back. A little bit worried about the injuries. It's been a tough season. Twenty players couldn't train today, so a little bit concerning, but, the guys that did train was awesome and I'm, I'm very proud to be the 'bok coach and I think we'll have a great year going forward."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Heyneke Meyer, Springboks coach:

"I know it's harsh, but I've always said I'm not loyal to players, I'm loyal to performance and at the end of the day you have to take the emotion out, which is quite difficult, but the best 31 players need to go to the World Cup, so if you look at the past, there's always been guys that forced their way in, so obviously you look at the experienced guys that have been there and put their bodies on the line for three years, but it shows that form's definitely also in contention and a lot of guys has played well."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Heyneke Meyer, Springboks coach (on injured captain Jean de Villiers):

"It will be great to have Jean. He's been an awesome leader. I think he's been a great ambassador for his country and, he's just a great guy to have around and he inspires the team, but, there's a lot of other guys around and I'm positive that we'll have a great captain going to the World Cup if Jean can't go, but knowing Jean, he's been injured so many times, he's a fighter and I know he'll be there at the end."