Springboks Gcobani Bobo, Tonderai Chavhanga and Schalk Brits are fit and available for selection for Western Province for their Currie Cup match against the Blue Bulls at Newlands on Saturday.

The three WP stars were not included in the Springbok squad that was named by the national selectors for the Tri-Nations away matches against New Zealand and Australia.

South Africa will be involved in back-to-back Test matches against New Zealand on 5 July in Wellington and 12 July in Dunedin.

The team completes its overseas commitments of the tournament on 19 July against the Wallabies in Perth, reports the official WP website.

WP nevertheless have a strong representation in the touring party. Scrumhalves Bolla Conradie and Enrico Januarie, centre Jean de Villiers, utility back Peter Grant, fullbacks Percy Montgomery and Conrad Jantjes, lock Andries Bekker, flanks Schalk Burger and Luke Watson and prop Brian Mujati have all been included.

WP coach Allister Coetzee probably has mixed feelings about the return of his trio of stars.

He would feel sorry for them because they missed out on selection, but he would be glad that they are available to bolster his side for their second outing of the Currie Cup competition.

Coetzee on Monday already indicated that he would not hesitate to throw them straight into action this coming weekend in their crunch meeting with their old rivals from the north, the Blue Bulls.

"Let me put it this way: if you asked Nelson Mandela if he wants to be president of South Africa again, nobody would hesitate to give him the job again," said Coetzee.

"Except for [Monday's] session we have three training sessions and the captain's run left. Whoever comes back, would have enough time to slot in with the team."

365