Winemaker Allister has got Bok blend right

After an unforgettable week-long experience in Plettenberg Bay, as a Springbok group we travelled to Pretoria to continue our preparations for the opening Test against France at Loftus on Saturday.

Since coming on board to assist the Springboks in April, it has proved highly enjoyable working with and coaching these young players, because nothing is too difficult or too tiring for the assembled squad. On both attack and defence, this team have energy in abundance and it's amazing what you can achieve with energy and a strong work ethic. During the series against France, we will play very hard and will make mistakes along the way, but there won't be a lack of effort.

Inexperience is obviously the main issue at the moment when it comes to the national side. However, everybody has to start somewhere in order to become an experienced 50-cap Springbok. There is definitely enough talent in this playing group to build from. Expectations are high that we achieve results, but we first have to take baby steps. We must back this group of players and I believe they can become very successful.

The question from the outside is the style of play we will employ. Will the Springbok Class of 2017 be conservative or are we going to attack? The answer lies in getting the blend right in terms of the various facets of play.

To offer an analogy, Allister Coetzee is effectively the head winemaker. Coetzee has taken criticism because of poor results in the past, but his ability to make us work in tandem is amazing.

He is a very strong facilitator and is effective at allowing us to all come to the party. I have enjoyed working with my fellow assistant coaches, Franco Smith, Johann van Graan and Matthew Proudfoot, as well as the support staff, and it's mainly because of Coetzee's gift to allow everybody to have an opinion and to work together in a harmonious way.

And once everyone has spoken and offered an opinion, including the senior players, Coetzee, as the winemaker-in-chief, will then say: "This is what we are going to do and this is how we are going to blend this rugby team in order to get the best product out there for our fans."

In terms of our opponents for the trio of Tests this month, we know that we won't be facing a struggling French team.

They are building something and are now together for the second year with the same coaching staff. They are very different to French teams in the past where everything was off-the-cuff. The team under Guy Noves do not play off-the-cuff rugby, but still boast flair and some burly ball carriers. They are very good rugby players and will test us fully.

When France visit South Africa it's always an entertaining tour and this one will prove no different.

We will have to be right on top of our game in order to beat the French. We have no complacency when it comes to thinking that this French team are average, because they aren't.

They are well-coached and, from a defensive perspective, they are as sound as I have ever seen them.

Moreover, they are well-organised and structured within their attack, and have an adept tactical kicking game.