SOUTH AFRICA

Boks release nine players for Currie Cup duty

Monday 21st July 2008

Passport to go home: Adriaan Strauss

The Springbok management has confirmed the names of a group of non-first-choice players who have been released to play for their provinces in the Currie Cup.

Western Province's ailing Currie Cup campaign will received a healthy boost with the return of Bolla Conradie, Peter Grant, Schalk Brits and Brian Mujati.

The Sharks who were convincingly beaten by the Cheetahs last weekend will welcome back Ryan Kankowski (subject to a medical examination) Odwa Ndungane, Ruan Pienaar and Beast Mtawarira.

Newly capped Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss is set to play for the Free State Cheetahs in Friday's clash with the Falcons at Vodacom park in Bloemfontein.

Strauss made his Springbok debut off the bench against Australia in Perth last Saturday in the absence of injured Bok captain John Smit and the suspended Bismarck du Plessis.

With Du Plessis expected to return to the Springbok squad for upcoming Test against Argentina the rest of the Tri-Nations, Strauss not likely to return to the squad immediately.

Strauss is likely to replace Jaco du Toit as hooker in the Cheetahs starting line-up, with his cousin Richardt Strauss on the bench as the replacement hooker.

After the Falcons' upset victory against Western Province over the weekend Drotske confirmed he will not rest any of his regular players.

Flanker Duanne Vermeulen is set to play in his first game of the season after recovering from a neck injury, while there is uncertainty over the availability of captain Hendro Scholtz who hurt his shoulder in the Free Staters 31-9 win over the Sharks on Saturday.