Eighteen Springboks who were part of South Africa’s record-breaking Tri-Nations victory over Australia will feature in domestic rugby this weekend as the Currie Cup semi-final race continues to pick up pace.
Only Adrian Jacobs (Sharks), Jongi Nokwe (Cheetahs), Percy Montgomery (Western Province) and Butch James of Bath are not in action this weekend as national attention returns to the longest continuous cup competition in world rugby.
Jacobs is being rested after a bruising Tri-Nations campaign, Nokwe picked up an ankle injury while scoring his fourth try against the Wallabies, Montgomery has a stomach ailment and James is back in England.
The rest, however, are all available, with Western Province slotting all their first-choice players straight back into the mix, giving them no fewer than 11 Springboks in their starting line-up.
Perhaps the most talked-about match of the weekend takes place In Durban, where the Sharks host the Blue Bulls. The Sharks can once again consider the likes of Odwa Ndungane, Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Beast Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis for selection, while the Bulls have fit-again IRB World Player of the Year Bryan Habana back in the mix, along with current Bok captain Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies and Fourie du Preez.
Currie Cup fixtures
Friday, September 5
Valke vs Lions
Saturday, September 6
Cheetahs vs Western Province
Wildeklawer Griquas vs Boland Cavaliers
Sharks vs Blue Bulls
