Boks have closed gap on All Blacks

Springbok training squad members Eben Etzebeth and Steven Kitshoff are set for a period of 'strategic rest' in another example of how South Africa have closed the gap on New Zealand.

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee revealed on Monday that the two hard-working forwards will be rested in the next three weeks, although he still has to make a final call on when and for how long.

Speaking at the start of his team's build-up to their Super Rugby encounter with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday, Coetzee said the improved co-operation between the franchises and the national team have allowed the Boks to 'close the gap' on their arch rivals, the All Blacks.

"The coaches understand the importance of a World Cup year," Coetzee told a media briefing at the team's training base in Bellville, Cape Town.

"The national team's coaching staff also made a great attempt to visit the various franchises," the Stormers mentor said, adding: "[There is] a good working relationship with the high performance unit of the South African Rugby Union and the unions - it is a really good position to be in.

"It [a lack of co-operation] may have been an issue in the past, where we were faced with a unified New Zealand - in terms of their contracting system, their conditioners being paid by New Zealand and working with the franchises.

"They were more of a collective than what we have been.

"We have narrowed that gap now and that is the way forward."

Coetzee said he still has to make a final call of "strategic rest" for key players, but confirmed he is considering seriously resting some when they make the trip up the N1 to Bloemfontein.

"Eben [Etzebeth] comes to mind, definitely," Coetzee said, adding: "A player like Steven Kitshoff also.

"I have full confidence and belief in this squad system and there is no reason why I can't back the players now.

"It can only be a good thing to give Kitshoff a breather.

"With Eben's rest plan - he came back a bit late, only after the fourth or fifth game of the season.

"We have a total of three weeks we have to work in. We don't want to get to the back-end of the season when you now have to do it [rest players].

"We need to give ourselves some breathing space, so the plan is to look at that."

Centre Damian de Allende is being managed at training, but has not yet been added to the "must rest" list.

"There are no niggles and no need to rest him," Coetzee said, adding: "There is a break in two weeks' time, so certain players will have to push for the next few weeks and then they will get a break.

"Certain players, like a Kitshoff, are in physically more taxing positions than other players.

"That is the difference in the whole set-up, where we have to be clever.

"Kitshoff can't start every game for us at loosehead [prop] this year.

"We have in Oliver [Kebble] and Ali [Alistair Vermaak] two really good loosehead props."

@rugby365com