Springboks release four players

JOHANNESBURG - South Africa coach Jake White sent four of his squad back to their provinces today to play domestic rugby at the weekend.

Halfback Enrico Januarie, prop Lawrence Sephaka, utility back JP Pietersen and loose forward Pierre Spies were released after a practice session in Johannesburg.

White said the four players were still in contention for the Tri-Nations match against New Zealand in Pretoria on August 26 but needed to get match fit.

"They have not been dropped," White told reporters. "The thinking is they haven't played much and need game time.

"They will rejoin the squad on Sunday."

Flyhalves Butch James (groin) and Andre Pretorius (shin splints) and lock Danie Rossouw (hamstring) stayed in the team hotel resting niggling injuries.

White brought in former Western Province and Eastern Province coach Alan Zondagh to run Tuesday's practice.

Zondagh took the players through several ball-handling skills and White said he was pleased with the session.

"I asked Alan to come in and give his perspective and I think on the evidence of today it is working very well," White said.

"Fresh ideas always help and sometimes it's the same ideas but the players respond better to a different voice. Alan lives, eats and sleeps rugby and will be with us for the rest of the week."

White defended his decision to axe two of his more experienced backs, Breyton Paulse and Brent Russell, for the three-match home leg of the Tri-Nations.

"Breyton has played rugby almost non-stop for the last three years and leaving him out is part of the rotation policy," said the coach.

"With Ruan Pienaar coming in, who can practically play anywhere in the backline, Brent would have been another jack-of-all-trades type player and it's not possible to fit them all in."

- REUTERS