"There are still too many coaches that are not prepared to give black players a fair opportunity," De Villiers told the Afrikaans newspaper, Die Son. "As with black coaches, black rugby players have to work 10 times as hard before they are given a chance to show what they are worth."

De Villiers, is currently preparing himself for a tough two-month period with the arrival of the British and Irish Lions, insists faith and fear are very important to coaching.

He continued: "It is my job to identify talent and to believe in it. Players must have enough faith in their abilities and not be afraid to express themselves on a rugby field. If a coach is one-dimensional in his thinking, he will never be successful."

The Scarlets axed James on the grounds that they had allegedly been unfit to play games for more than 26 weeks in the last year. Contracts at the Scarlets reputedly have a "get-out clause" which makes them invalid if the player is on "the sick" for that period.

The Scarlets last month issued a statement claiming the dispute with 33-year-old James had been resolved, but sources revealed the British and Irish Lions Test player had not agreed to an early end to his contract, which was due to run until the end of next season.

James has engaged a barrister specialising in employment matters to fight the case and began legal action on the grounds his contract was terminated illegally - a claim dismissed by the Scarlets.

Two of Australia's stars in this year's Super 14, Digby Ioane and Hugh McMeniman, have reportedly been linked with moves to the Japanese club Suntory, coached by former Wallabies and Reds coach Eddie Jones.

"They're just getting started so I think they would rue the day they left if they did leave," Jones told AFP. "There is so much in front of them right now in terms of opportunity and you only get one crack."

The Australian Rugby Union at present don't select players not plying their trade within the country which would mean that two of the country's brightest prospects would have no immediate international future.

"I wouldn't want them to be in the position of looking back and regretting a short-term decision or one that was motivated by short-term gain or pecuniary gain, that doesn't have a lot of meaning," Deans said.

"The outcome of yesterday's scan shows that Max's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is intact which is positive news," Glasgow team doctor Gerry Haggerty said. "He has a medial ligament injury and some cartilage damage. He will undergo an operation to repair the cartilage and this procedure will also uncover any injury to the ACL that the scan may not have revealed."

"It's a big honour to be asked to coach a team against the Lions," he said.

"Sisa is a gifted athlete who is very mobile around the field," said Sale rugby director Kingsley Jones. "He has excellent discipline, and I am sure he will become a favourite with the Sale Sharks supporters."