Springbok utility forward Elrigh Louw and hooker Johan Grobbelaar have been released to play for the Vodacom Bulls in their fixture against the All Blacks on Saturday evening, with both players set to rejoin the national squad the following day.
The decision allows the pair to gain valuable match time before the Springboks open their four-Test series against New Zealand at Ellis Park on 22 August. Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff completed two days of training on Friday and Saturday, bringing the squad together following their 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires. The travelling party returned to South Africa in two groups on Monday night and Tuesday, spending much of the week on recovery and gym sessions to readjust to the local time zone. Players have been given a day and a half off to spend with their families before switching into full Test-week mode.
"It was important to manage the players who travelled to Argentina well and afford them sufficient time to recover from the match and switch back into the domestic time zone, which is why we only started training as a full group late in the week," Erasmus said. "But we are pleased that the players are well recovered and ready to give everything for the forthcoming Tests against the All Blacks. It will undoubtedly be a very challenging tournament, but we are looking forward to it as a collective."
The series continues at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on 29 August, returns to FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 5 September, and concludes at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on 12 September.