Coach Allister Coetzee praises fitness

Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has warned that his team have not achieved anything yet, despite a morale-boosting series win against France that has gone a long way to exorcising the ghosts of an abysmal 2016.

Coetzee said a focus on player conditioning after stinging recent criticism by Crusaders coach Scott Robertson of Super Rugby side the Bulls played a role in a series victory wrapped up with Saturday's 37-15 win against Les Bleus at Kings Park.

Coetzee said the Boks had welcomed Robertson's opinion that South African teams were unable to keep up with the speed of the game for 80 minutes at Super Rugby level after the New Zealanders crushed the Bulls 62-24 last month at Loftus.

 "We looked at the state of conditioning in South Africa because when the Crusaders coach said we were not conditioned, we said, 'Yes, let's listen to this man because he is 100% right," Coetzee said after Saturday's second-Test win.

"Things are falling into place but we haven't achieved anything yet, but if we continue to build like we are, we will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the future."

Coetzee said despite the series victory, the third match against France in Johannesburg on Saturday was important.

Springbok captain Warren Whiteley said there was a lot of rugby still to play.

"We believe that we can improve as a team, and that's what's exciting," he said.

Whiteley said the Springboks' unity, pride and character are going to be tested in the coming months. The Boks play 12 matches this year, against Australia and New Zealand.