These Springboks could be back for their Currie Cup teams

With one round to go in this year’s Currie Cup campaign before the playoffs, the battle for a spot in the last four is a heated one.

Springbok management have confirmed that all players who don’t have a national contract are available for the business end of the competition.

Even nationally-contracted players like Handre Pollard, who hasn’t had a lot of game-time, will be allowed to be considered.

But generally, national contract Boks aren’t allowed to play Currie Cup.

We look at the resources available to the sides and whether they’ll even pick those players.

Lions

Available: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Dreyer, Malcolm Marx, Ross Cronje, Courtnall Skosan

There must be a temptation for coach Swys de Bruin to pick the majority of his Springboks as their clash with the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday will determine who makes the semis between the two sides.

However, the youth policy employed by the coaching staff has bore some fruit.

Ruan Dreyer could be an attractive option to shore up the scrums while Coetzee will always be solid at the back at this level.

But, except for Dreyer, these Springboks have played a lot of rugby.

And when you have an exciting talent like Marco Janse van Vuren emerging at scrumhalf, do you really need Cronje?

Blue Bulls

Available: Rudy Paige, Handre Pollard (national contract), Lood de Jager (national contract, possibly), Trevor Nyakane (national contract, possibly)

Director of rugby John Mitchell might actually not have much of a headache with his lot.

He’s previously stated he’s not too keen on incorporating Handre Pollard for the sake of continuity and probably won’t consider poor Rudy Paige because the other scrumhalves have been rotated with reasonable success.

De Jager and Nyakane are only mentioned because technically they’ve played so little for the Springboks that, logically, they should be in need of game-time.

De Jager, who delivered a fine performance at Newlands against the All Blacks, would be of real value at lock.

Sharks

Available: Dan du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Louis Schreuder, S’bu Nkosi

Ironically, all of the group but Jean-Luc du Preez have played in this year’s campaign.

As a result, it shouldn’t be difficult for coach Robert du Preez to welcome them back into the fold.

To be honest, it will only make their charge towards the title stronger.

Western Province

Available: Dillyn Leyds, Damian de Allende (national contract, possibly), Wilco Louw

Western Province have more depth than most of their counterparts, which is why their inconsistency in the current campaign annoys coach John Dobson no end.

That said, they do have some key Springboks that won’t be allowed to play in Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi.

Dillyn Leyds will provide a welcome injection of X-factor into the backline, while Wilco Louw has played a meaningful part in the campaign anyway.

The selection of Damian de Allende is a poser as Province don’t really need him…

Free State Cheetahs

Available: Francois Venter, Oupa Mohoje

Technically the Cheetahs shouldn’t count on this list because their Boks have been present for a while now.

Yet it now seems highly likely that a lot of their Pro14 stars will be back for the Currie Cup run-in and that could make them very dangerous.