Rassie Erasmus yesterday insisted a six month extension of Jaco Taute’s contract has still not been agreed between Munster, the IRFU and Western Province. The deal must be struck by midnight on Saturday, but it looks a near certainty to be completed.

Many might feel intimidated facing a 6 ft 8 inch, 18-stone South African boasting a thick black beard and sporting a black eye.

Munster appear to be moving closer to tying down Springbok centre Jaco Taute for the rest of the season with director of rugby Rassie Erasmus suggesting an extension to his loan deal was a matter of “crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s”.

IRFU performance director David Nucifora insists Johnny Sexton will not be rushed back to action until he is 100% fit.

Reports Springbok centre Jaco Taute is on the brink of joining Munster on a short-term contract appear premature with the province waiting for Stormers to give the the go-ahead.

New Munster director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus has drafted in compatriot Jacques Nienaber as the province’s new defence coach.

Tommaso Allan knows the routine.

Western Province director of rugby Gert Smal has revealed South Africa captain and former Munster star Jean de Villiers set up the deal that will bring centre Pat Howard to Ireland on a three-month loan deal.

Bryan Habana will be giving his Toulon team-mates the inside track on Munster’s South African contingent, having played with BJ Botha, CJ Stander and Gerhard van den Heever.

Munster head coach Rob Penney will welcome new signing Gerhard van den Heever to the province early next month with the promise the powerful wing will see a lot more ball than he enjoyed during Western Province’s run to the Currie Cup final.

Ireland’s preparations for Saturday’s Test against South Africa have been dealt another serious blow after Paul O’Connell was ruled out of the Guinness Series opener due to a back injury.

Luke Fitzgerald has finally signed a deal to keep him at Heineken Cup champions Leinster despite not having his contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union renewed.

In the second part of our special investigation, we examine the property and companies of the religious order, the Sisters of Mercy.

IRELAND U20s captain Niall Annett insists victory over South Africa tonight (7.10pm Irish time) will erase the pain of their agonising 33-25 defeat to England in their IRB Junior World Championship opener on Friday.

Peter de Villiers admitted he had little choice when selecting his South Africa team for their Grand Slam tour opener against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

IT IS somewhat unfortunate that the ongoing saga about the IRFU ticketing policy has overshadowed the return of international rugby to its traditional home in Lansdowne Road.

Prop Gurthro Steenkamp has been named the South African Player of the Year for 2010.

SOUTH AFRICA have been hit with further worries as they prepare to head to Dublin for this Saturday’s Test with Ireland.

JEAN DE VILLIERS last night rubbished claims he was unhappy at Munster by describing his time with the province as “an incredible experience”.

MUNSTER management today face an anxious wait for an update on the condition of their new star signing Jean de Villiers, after he limped out of South Africa’s 28-19 Tri-Nations win over New Zealand on Saturday.

MUNSTER’S status as one of Europe’s leading attractions for the world’s best players was confirmed yesterday when Springbok centre, Jean de Villiers, agreed terms to join the two-time Heineken Cup champions.

THE youngest of the British and Irish Lions class of 2009 will be home in Limerick today – much richer for the experience of participating in the tour to South Africa.

FOUR DAYS on, and that defeat in Pretoria is still pretty hard to take, especially from a smug South African support base who are slow to recognise the limitations within their own set up. Let’s face it; the Lions could have done with winning last Saturday or even in the circumstances holding on for the draw which their herculean efforts over the last two weekends have deserved.

GET SET for a rare treat in modern international rugby — a three-test series. The question on everyone’s lips, however, is how competitive will it be and for how long?

LIONS assistant backs coach Rob Howley yesterday admitted that Irish trio Jerry Flannery, Stephen Ferris and Tomas O’Leary would have made their mark at Test level on this tour but for injury.

England wing Ugo Monye has been drafted into the British and Irish Lions starting line-up for today's game against the Southern Kings.

DONNCHA O’Callaghan isn’t easily knocked for six, but British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan managed to skittle him yesterday when he appointed him as captain of the team to meet the Southern Kings later today.

Donncha O’Callaghan has described being appointed British and Irish Lions captain as the biggest honour of his life.

THE BRITISH and Irish Lions received mixed reviews from the South African press following Saturday’s scrappy 26-23 win over Western Province in Cape Town, one outlet preaching that while the Lions have good fans, they’ve “pretty ordinary” players.

FORMER English and Lions prop Graham Rowntree yesterday spoke of the ‘immense’ loss of injured Irish hooker Jerry Flannery to the Lions tour of South Africa.

TOMMY BOWE won more than the man-of-the-match award in Durban on Saturday – he also cemented his place for Saturday’s first test against South Africa in Durban.

TOMMY BOWE admits his career has “really rocketed” as the British and Irish Lions prepare to launch him at world champions South Africa.

Western Province 23 British and Irish Lions 26

PHIL VICKERY believes the British and Irish Lions have reached “a very dangerous time” of their South Africa tour.

WALES captain Ryan Jones has been declared unfit for Lions duty and will fly home within days of arriving in South Africa as a tour replacement.

The most controversial player in South Africa Luk Watson will captain Western Province from number eight gainst The Lions at Newlands on Saturday.

IAN McGEECHAN has revealed he is unlikely to give his British and Irish Lions Test team a trial run before their opening showdown against world champions South Africa.

IAN McGEECHAN has underlined a commitment to select “what we see in front of us” for the British and Irish Lions’ Test series showdown against world champions South Africa.

Ian McGeechan has underlined a commitment to select “what we see in front of us” for the British and Irish Lions’ Test series showdown against world champions South Africa.

Ian McGeechan will today name his first team of the British and Irish Lions’ 2009 South Africa tour.

HATS off to Leinster. They displayed remarkable character and composure to hit the ground running from the kick off in their first Heineken Cup final. Notwithstanding the fact that with 13 international players on board, they were not going to be fazed by the familiar surroundings of Murrayfield, the manner in which Michael Cheika’s side dominated the opening quarter suggested a team primed for action.

MUNSTER’S back-to-back Heineken Cup dream may be over, but they’re already planning ahead and closing in on Springbok star Jean de Villiers for next season.

JUSTIN MELCK’S temporary move from Western Province to Munster could be described as one born out of mutual necessity.