British and Irish Lions

Seven of the nine featured in Saturday's 16-9 defeat against Australia in Perth, with Bolla Conradie the only player not to have appeared in any of the three matches against the All Blacks and Wallabies.

All nine return to provinces who will face the Lions during next summer's highly-anticipated tour, with four players heading back to both Western Province and the Sharks and Adriaan Strauss returning to the Cheetahs.

The remainder of the Springbok squad will assemble again on July 30 in Pretoria to prepare for the Test match with Argentina in Johannesburg on August 9.

Springbok squad members released to their provinces

Bolla Conradie (Western Province)

Peter Grant (Western Province)

Schalk Brits (Western Province)

Brian Mujati (Western Province)

Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)

Ruan Pienaar (Sharks)

Beast Mtawarira (Sharks)

Ryan Kankowski (Sharks, subject to medical)

Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs)

The Waratahs upset the odds by beating Super Rugby leaders the Brumbies 28-22, but the game came at a huge cost to Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.

Tom Youngs has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top of the British & Irish game but he won't be resting on his laurels ahead of his first Lions adventure.