South Africa’s Super Rugby teams may be struggling, but that doesn’t mean the Springboks will follow a similar trend in 2014, believes Western Force coach Michael Foley.

Foley said, after his side beat the Cheetahs 23-16 in Bloemfontein last weekend. They face the Stormers in Cape Town this Saturday.

Sport24

Foley believes Bok coach Heyneke Meyer is building a strong team.

He admitted the number of players playing abroad may have had an influence on the poor form of South Africa’s Super Rugby teams this year, but lauded Meyer for utilising his overseas Boks well.

Foley said last year’s Rugby Championship and year-end tour showed signs of a strong Springbok team developing.

The Boks beat Australia twice to finish second in the Southern Hemisphere event, and came home unbeaten from their European tour with victories over Wales, Scotland and France.

“I watched South Africa’s match against Wales last year. If you see Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Duane Vermeulen, Bakkies Botha and Bismarck du Plessis play together then you realise it’s a very big, strong and skilful pack of forwards. And then you also have the backline that goes with it. Guys like Jean de Villiers. Then you know it’s going to be a very good Test team,” said Foley, who himself played 50 Tests at hooker for the Wallabies.

Foley believes Meyer is getting the balance right by knowing which overseas and which local players to pick.

The Springboks start their year with a game against the World XV at Newlands on 7 June, followed by 2 Tests against Wales (Durban 14 June and Nelspruit 21 June) and one against Scotland (Port Elizabeth 28 June).