Coaches in juggling act

SPRINGBOK fringe players accumulated decent air miles this week as they shuttled to and from Port Elizabeth before being finally released for provincial duty.

Western Province coach Allister Coetzee was forced to delay naming his team on Tuesday for this weekend's Currie Cup match against the Golden Lions because he was waiting to hear if Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon would be sent back to Cape Town.

The pair were eventually released from the Bok group after missing the cut to play against the All Blacks.

Centre De Jongh and fullback Aplon enjoyed a training session with the Province squad in Bellville yesterday and shouldn't have too much trouble reintegrating themselves into the team's pattern. But Coetzee didn't rush them back into the starting line-up and selected both on the bench.

"It's an early Christmas present to have two Springboks available for us," Coetzee said. "One thing I can promise is that they will be given game time."

Meanwhile, Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar had the unenviable task of naming Willie Wepener as the reserve hooker for the game against Griquas at lunchtime on Tuesday, only to have to axe him by supper time.

Bok third-choice hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, who started the week in Pretoria, was flown to Port Elizabeth on Sunday as cover for the injured and ill John Smit. On Monday it appeared Ralepelle would be on the bench against the All Blacks, but by Tuesday Smit was showing signs of recovery.

The Boks released Ralepelle, but only after Pienaar had omitted him from the Bulls team.

When the coach realised that his first-choice hooker was once again available, he had to tell Wepener he was out.