South African rugby officials held a "frank" meeting to review the Springboks' lacklustre performance a year before the team launches its Rugby World Cup defence, a top official said.

A South African Rugby Union (SARU) committee met on Monday to review the national side's performance with embattled coach Peter de Villiers, who has come under fire following a disastrous Tri-Nations campaign that saw the Boks suffer five defeats in six Tests.

"It was a frank meeting but a positive one," SARU vice-president James Stoffberg said in a statement.

"The committee's focus was very much on examining areas where we can assist the Springbok team and coach in making sure they arrive at the field in the best possible state of preparation."

De Villiers, who has faced speculation he could lose his job over the team's sub-par performance and a string of recent media gaffes, acknowledged the Boks have room to improve.

"We know there are areas in which we must improve and we will be focusing on those in the remainder of the season," he said in the statement.

SARU president Oregan Hoskins refused, after the meeting, to answer journalists' questions on De Villiers' future with the Springboks, reported The Star.

"I am not going to answer that, I am sorry," Hoskins said when asked whether De Villiers would go along for the Boks' year-end grand slam tour.

De Villiers has had a rough time both on and off the field in recent months.

He sparked outrage earlier this month for saying the Springboks extended "100 percent" support to Jacobus 'Bees' Roux, a Blue Bulls prop forward accused of beating a Pretoria policeman to death.

The incident prompted South African sports minister Makhenkesi Stofile to tell the controversy-prone coach to get a spokesperson.

In August, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby officials held a misconduct hearing over De Villiers' suggestion that the Boks had been the victims of a conspiracy to help the All Blacks. The charge was dropped.

The coach was also forced to apologise during last year's Lions tour after responding to an eye-gouging ban by suggesting that tutus could be bought at the nearest ballet shop.

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