The Blue Bulls have been boosted by the return of no less than four Springboks ahead of their Currie Cup clash with Western Province at Loftus on Saturday.
Prop Trevor Nyakane, flank Marco van Staden and scrumhalves Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl were all released by the national camp for Currie Cup duty this weekend.
The quartet joins nine other Springboks – five from Western Province, one Shark in Sbu Nkosi and three players from the Lions – who were released on Tuesday.
Bok pivot Elton Jantjies and his Lions teammates Aphiwe Dyantyi and Lionel Mapoe will play in the first Currie Cup match of the weekend when they travel to Mpumalanga to face the Pumas in what will be a straight knockout for a place in the playoffs.
Released Boks
Blue Bulls:
Trevor Nyakane, Marco van Staden Ivan van Zyl and Embrose Papier.
Sharks:
Sbu Nkosi
WP:
Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Damian Willemse and Ruhan Nel.
Golden Lions:
Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe and Aphiwe Dyantyi.