WP, Sharks the big Bok benefactors
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:00
Boks are back: Adriaan Strauss will be available for the Cheetahs
The Sharks and Western Province are the two unions that will benefit most from the Springboks' two-week break in Test rugby, as they strengthen their Currie Cup squads with national players.
The Springboks have a two-week break from international action after their 9-16 loss to Australia on Saturday in Perth. Their next Test match will see them take on Argentina at Ellis Park on Saturday, August 9.
Western Province have been struggling badly in the Currie Cup recently, and have lost two consecutive matches to 'minnows' Griquas and the Falcons.
Coach Allister Coetzee will be breathing a huge sigh of relief now that he will be able to call on Bolla Conradie and Peter Grant, as well as forwards Brian Mujati and Schalk Brits to boost his side's ailing fortunes.
The Sharks will also be thrilled with the news that they will be able to call on four Bok players to their camp.
The Durban-based side have been found out recently after losing two out of their last three matches in the Currie Cup.
Their latest defeat was a heavy 9-31 loss at the hands of the Cheetahs, and coach John Plumtree will be desperate to add some Springbok reinforcements to his side. The availability of Tendai Mtawarira, Odwa Ndungane and Ruan Pienaar will be like music to Plumtree's ears.
Eighthman Ryan Kankowski could also join up with his Sharks teammates this weekend, but that depends on the player getting medical clearance from the Springbok team doctor.
Bismarck du Plessis will be under suspension until August 3, which means he will not be eligible to play for the Sharks before during the international break.
Adrian Jacobs is still struggling with a hamstring injury, the extent of which should become apparent very soon. Despite that, chances are that Jacobs will be instructed to rest.
John Smit is carrying a long-term groin injury, and is in a race to be fit for the end-of-year Springbok tour.
Free State Cheetahs and Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss was also released from Tri-Nations duty on Monday, and will be free to line-up for his province in the Currie Cup encounter with the Falcons in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Strauss made his Springbok debut in the Tri-Nations Test against the Wallabies in Perth at the weekend - after being called up as a replacement for the suspended Du Plessis.
Strauss will most probably replace Jaco du Toit as hooker in the starting line-up of the Cheetahs, with cousin Richardt Strauss likely to sit on the bench as the replacement hooker.
Coach Naka Drotské confirmed he will not rest any of his regular players as the Falcons will be a very difficult team to beat, especially considering their shock 38-32 win over Western Province last Friday.
The Cheetahs will however not have the added luxury of fielding Boks CJ van der Linde and Juan Smith in the Currie Cup, as both players will be resting up for the Springboks' home leg of the Tri-Nations.
Flank Duanne Vermeulen could also play in his first game, while there is uncertainty over the availability of captain Hendro Scholtz.
The Bok flank injured his shoulder in Free State's 31-9 win over the Sharks at the weekend.
Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke will feel slightly hard done by, as none of the Blue Bulls' Springboks have been released to play Currie Cup rugby.
The Bulls have a bye this week and the Boks regroup next week, ahead of the encounter with the Pumas, which means Ludeke will not be able to call on any of his national stars - like Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies and Gürthro Steenkamp.
Meanwhile, Bok stalwart Schalk Burger is undergoing scans to assess the severity of his neck problem, and he could well be rested.
The Springboks assemble again on Wednesday, July 30 in Pretoria to prepare for their next Test against Argentina on August 9 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
