Cape Town - Players who will not feature in Allister Coetzee's Rugby Championship plans will get a chance to prove their Springbok credentials in the Currie Cup competition, which starts on Friday.
There are at least five fringe players who will be hoping to catch the Bok coach's eye over the next couple of weeks with the view to being called up for the Rugby Championship or end of year tour to Europe.
Scarra Ntubeni (Western Province)
The Stormers hooker didn't have the greatest Super Rugby campaign after playing second fiddle to Bongi Mbonambi. However, he has the chance to get some game time as Western Province's first-choice hooker during the Currie Cup.
Ntubeni has been plagued by calf injuries over the last few years and needs to build up some match fitness by playing week in and week out. At the peak of his powers, Ntubeni is a busy player around the park - with and without the ball. There has always been a question about his lineout throwing, but it's something that he can work on over the next few weeks.
Garth April (Sharks)
April's Currie Cup campaign will not start on a great note after he was dropped for the Sharks' first match after missing a curfew. It's also been a tough couple of weeks for the young man from Wellington after he was included in the Springbok squad for the June Tests against Ireland. He didn't look his confident self in the last few matches of Super Rugby, after a few top performances against the New Zealand sides earlier this year. April will be hoping that the Sharks play a much more attacking brand of rugby in the Currie Cup, which will suit his game nicely.
Francois Venter (Free State Cheetahs)
The hard-running Cheetahs centre was excellent for the South African A side against the England Saxons in June. He also put in another top shift for the Cheetahs and was the standout player in another disappointing Super Rugby campaign for the Free State outfit. If it wasn't for Lionel Mapoe's excellent form, Venter could have been a Springbok already this year. But he still has a chance to make it onto the End-of-Year tour if he can keep on performing at a high level in the Currie Cup. His time will come, sooner rather than later.
Arno Botha (Blue Bulls)
Injuries have really hampered the progression of this big ball-carrying loose forward. After making his Springbok debut against Italy in 2013, Botha only played four minutes in his second Test before rupturing ligaments in his left knee. Since then he has been the shadow of the player who showed such great promise for the SA Under-20 side. At his best, Botha is a great ball carrier with the ability to get momentum on the attack with his bulldozing runs. He is also a fierce defender, but can play with a lot of intelligence.
Sergeal Petersen (Free State Cheetahs)
The Cheetahs flyer is an exceptionally talented footballer. Not only does he have a lot of pace to burn, he reads the game well and has a deft step and great skill as well. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and, for a small guy, he actually has a lot of power to make his way over the line. With JP Pietersen and Willie le Roux moving overseas (and being rested by Coetzee), there will be spots opening up in the Springboks' back three at the end of the year. A few good performances could elevate him into the Bok side. - African News Agency (ANA)