Perpignan in 2003.

Richardt Strauss tried hisbest to stay on message and turn the attention to Aironi yesterday but even the tight-lipped South African couldn’t prevent the conversation from zeroing in on his imminent eligibility for Ireland.

TWO seasons ago, Leinster travelled to France as reigning Heineken Cup champions for a semi-final against Toulouse, a club that considers itself that bit more regal than every other one with pretensions of royal status in Europe.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers will rely on the core of the squad that became world champions four years ago after naming his 30-man World Cup squad tonight.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans hailed his side’s display after last week’s shock defeat to Samoa following their commanding 39-20 victory over South Africa last night.

MATT GITEAU’S chances of playing in a third Rugby World Cup have suffered a major blow after he was left out of Australia’s squad for Saturday’s Tri Nations opener against South Africa in Sydney.

LEINSTER will battle to retain the services of prop forward Mike Ross next season with increased speculation the Cork native is set for a return to his Munster roots following the departure of Tony Buckley to Sale Sharks.

SARACENS come to Dublin this week marooned at the bottom of pool four, eight points behind Leinster, but Richardt Strauss has reason enough to approach Saturday’s Heineken Cup encounter with due care.

CHRISTMAS may have come early for Eoin O’Malley. With Rob Kearney and Luke Fitzgerald ruled out, and Brian O’Driscoll expected to follow suit, there are suddenly all sorts of opportunities opening in the previously impervious Leinster back line.

England 11 South Africa 21

Juan Smith will captain South Africa when they take on the Barbarians next weekend in their final match of the season, it has been announced today.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made two changes for Saturday’s Test against England, following last week’s 21-17 defeat by Scotland.

PROP Tendai Mtawarira is a doubt for South Africa’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after missing training yesterday with a medial knee ligament strain.

Prop Tendai Mtawarira is a doubt for South Africa’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after missing training today with a medial knee ligament strain.

WINGER Bryan Habana’s fractured a bone in his hand during training and will take no further part in South Africa’s tour of Britain and Ireland.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers has announced his side that will face Ireland in the opening game of the 2010 Guinness series at the Aviva stadium on Saturday.

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

SPRINGBOK coach Peter de Villiers has named 11 uncapped players in his preliminary 39-man training squad for their Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland.

South Africa head coach Peter de Villiers has named 11 uncapped players in his preliminary 39-man training squad for their Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland.

LEINSTER’S latest South African prop seems to be settling in well to his new surroundings in the Irish capital, and Heinke van der Merwe should feel equally at home in Wembley on Saturday.

Allister Coetzee insists there is no truth in reports of a planned coup involving himself and Jake White aimed at toppling national coach Peter de Villiers.

Bath fly-half Butch James is a notable absentee from the South Africa bench for this weekend's Tri Nations encounter against Australia in Bloemfontein.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers has made two changes to his side ahead of Saturday’s game against Australia in Pretoria.

Leinster prop Stan Wright will be out of action for at least six months, the Leinster senior management have confirmed.

WIAN du Preez thought long and hard before deciding a return to Munster for the next two seasons was in his best interests.

SOUTH AFRICA’S conditioning coach Neels Liebel claimed yesterday he had proof to show northern hemisphere rugby was slower than the game played in the southern hemisphere.

Front row pair BJ Botha and Tendai Mtawarira are among five player that have been dropped from the South Africa squad to face New Zealand in their Tri Nations encounter in Johannesburg on Saturday.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers has rung the changes ahead of Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has rung the changes ahead of Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with Australia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

SOUTH AFRICA lock Victor Matfield was yesterday despairing at the way Irish referees Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland have policed the breakdown, following his side’s second successive Tri Nations defeat to New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

SOUTH AFRICA out-half Morne Steyn insists there will be no knee-jerk reaction to last week’s Tri Nations destruction at the hands of the All Blacks when the sides meet again in Wellington tomorrow (8.35am).

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made two enforced changes for the second Tri Nations Test in Wellington on Saturday as his team look to make amends for their humbling loss to New Zealand.

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

IT was billed as the dream send-off for Leinster coach Michael Cheika but the inspired Ospreys danced all over the script in this inaugural Magners League Grand final at the RDS on Saturday.

Leinster 12 Ospreys 17

CIAN HEALY faced an anxious overnight wait before getting the nod to take his place in Leinster’s Magners League final squad to face the Ospreys at the RDS tonight (6.30pm).

Cian Healy has lost out in the battle for room in the Leinster front row for the Magner's League Grand Final against The Ospreys at The RDS on Saturday (KO: 6.30pm).

Leinster’s CJ van der Linde will move to the Super-14 Cheetahs next season in an effort to win back his place in the South African squad for the 2011 World Cup.

MUNSTER have signed Cheetahs prop Wian du Preez on a two-year contract.

LEO CULLEN’S shoulder injury has given Leinster’s senior statesman, Malcolm O’Kelly, a golden opportunity to wrap up his illustrious career on a high in the Magners League final at the RDS (6.30pm) on Saturday.

Stand-in captain Shane Jennings will lead Leinster into the Magner’s League final on Saturday.

Prop CJ van der Linde, scrum-half Chris Keane and hooker Bernard Jackman will end their Leinster careers against The Ospreys in the Magner’s League Grand Final at The RDS on Saturday evening.

JONATHAN SEXTON was yesterday cleared to play for Leinster, and so the extra spice that has become a feature of their games against Munster over the past few is guaranteed once again at the RDS tonight when they go head-to-head again in the semi-final of the Magners League.

Jonathan Sexton makes his return to the Leinster side to play Munster in Saturday's Magners League semi final at the RDS on Saturday (kick off: 8pm).