New Springbok coach Harry Viljoen and Alan Solomons have set their differences aside.

Viljoen met with all four Super 12 coaches on Thursday, which included the Stormers' Solomons. The two were at the helm when Western Province won the Currie Cup in 1997.

Solomons was often disgruntled about the lack of recognition he received for the rise in WP's fortunes and their relationship soured during the Super 12 in 1998. Towards the end of the Super 12, even before a disinterested Viljoen quit, Solomons effectively coached the team.

According to Solomons, they had a very good meeting on Thursday and the future looked bright. "It was a very positive meeting and we discussed the way forward. There were never any words between Harry and myself," he told a newspaper.

"Relationships that became strained in the past is all water under the bridge and I'm looking forward to a good working relationship," said Solomons, a close friend and former assistant of Bok coach Nick Mallett.

Viljoen said: "It was good to sit down and talk, but we'll have to meet again. There are still a lot of things that need to be cleared up, but I'm positive about the future.

"I'm going to rely a lot on the input of others. I have a very good idea of who the top 20 to 25 players are, but for the rest the selectors would have to guide me."

Viljoen is still struggling to assemble a coaching team. With the Bok squad being announced after next week's Currie Cup semifinals, he hasn't got much time left.

With Andre Markgraaff making himself unavailable, it now seems unlikely that Chester Williams will be able to hang up his boots and start coaching the Boks.

Viljoen said: "With his players' contract only expiring at the end of 2001, he (Chester) is in a difficult position because he could lose a lot of money if he had to become involved in coaching now."