Five Boks in Bulls Currie Cup squad

The Vodacom Bulls will have five Springboks in their Currie Cup squad, released on Tuesday as the country’s showpiece rugby tournament gets set for kickoff.

And many of them have a point to prove.

From Embrose Papier and Ivan van Zyl, both dropped from Springbok contention after the Vodacom Super Rugby season rotational policy saw them play second fiddle to Andre Warner as the season wound down, to inspirational winger Cornal Hendricks, who scored some sensational tries in the last weeks of the competition, to Marnitz Boshoff, the Bok pivot who has struggled with injuries and gets another chance to shine -- everyone has something to inspire them to greater heights this season.

Perhaps none more so than Roelof Smit, the flanker who is possibly the closest thing that this country has to David Pocock.

Ignored by the Super Rugby squad, and in fine form in the pre-season game against the Pumas, Smit came close to achieving a test cap, but was injured in the week the Boks were set to play England in 2017 and missed his shot, and has been beset with injuries ever since.

Since getting back onto the park he is now behind Marco van Staden and Ruan Steenkamp, and will need to be given some game time to prove himself again.

Steenkamp is almost assured game time as vice-captain, with Burger Odendaal the captain for the season.

A number of former Blitzboks will also add to their effort, including Rosko Specman, Dylan Sage and Tim Agaba, while Stedman Gans has also joined up with the squad.

Former Cell C Sharks flanker, Wihan Vosloo, also joined from Durban, while lock Andries Ferreira returns to his old stomping ground at Loftus Versfeld.

Wiehahn Herbst will also debut for the Blue Bulls, following a long career with the Cell C Sharks and Ulster.

CURRIE CUP TRAINING SQAUD

Fullbacks: Divan Rossouw, Earll Douwrie

Wings: Cornal Hendricks, Rosko Specman, Jade Stighling.

Centres: Burger Odendaal, Dylan Sage, Johnny Kotze, Stedman Gans.

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok, Marnitz Boshoff

Scrumhalves: Embrose Papier, Ivan van Zyl, Andre Warner.

Loose forwards: Tim Agaba, Fred Eksteen, Wihan Vosloo, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Ruan Steenkamp, Eduan Lubbe, Roelof Smit.

Locks: Jean Drotste, Andries Ferreira, Ruan Nortje, Adri Smith, Marius Verwey

Props: Wiehahn Herbst, Conraad van Vuuren, Madot Mabokela, Simphiwe Matanzima, Matthys Basson, Dayan van der Westhuizen.

Hookers Jaco Visagie, Johan Grobbelaar