The great and the good had been queuing up all week to predict an England win at Twickenham on Saturday night, among them three captains from World Cups long gone, writes Peter Jackson.

South Africans must be patient with the pace of transformation in the country’s national rugby side and will not be asking for more black players at the World Cup, sports minister Fikile Mbalula said yesterday.

South Africa captain and former Munster player Jean de Villiers faces a race to be fit for next year’s World Cup.

Sam Warburton says he does not feel any sense of surprise after Wales finally ended their southern hemisphere hoodoo.

Wales finally cracked the code of success against major southern hemisphere opposition as full-back Leigh Halfpenny’s relentless goalkicking saw off Millennium Stadium visitors South Africa.

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.

Jared Payne could miss Ireland’s autumn Test against Georgia next weekend after suffering a suspected foot sprain in the 29-15 victory over South Africa.

When South Africa captain Jean de Villiers lines up against Ireland today, he will have almost 100 caps and 12 years of experience on his direct opponents.

Meyer couldn’t help but laugh when asked if he is viewed as a risk-taker back home. His response was that the perception is actually very different.

Are the days of signing top, top names now more difficult for Munster because of finances?

Wales’ long wait to claim the major southern hemisphere scalp they crave continues – but only after an heroic display in a ferocious Test match of brutal intensity at the Millennium Stadium.

South Africa 27 New Zealand 38

Highly-classified documents will be included in the published report of a British Government-ordered review into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, it was revealed today.

Contrary to popular belief, Keith Earls insists he is neither a temperamental baby throwing his toys out of the pram nor a cranky old character mired in his own inflexibility.

Talk inevitably turned to the passing of time when Jean De Villiers caught up with Paul O’Connell and a few more of his old Munster cronies on Thursday.

South African captain Jean de Villiers is relishing the prospect of facing former Munster colleague Keith Earls at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa 16 New Zealand 32

England head coach Stuart Lancaster claims his players already have their minds set on revenge after their narrow first Test loss to South Africa.

South Africa 22 England 17

ALL rational thinking suggests that only the Thomond Park factor can save Munster from a second Heineken Cup defeat at the venue when Northampton Saints come calling on Saturday.

AUSTRALIA crept into the World Cup semi-finals after James O’Connor landed a late penalty to send champions South Africa crashing out.

SOUTH AFRICA head coach Peter de Villiers believes his side are ready for the World Cup knockout phase after advancing from Pool D with a 100% record following a bruising win over Samoa at North Harbour Stadium.

Bryan Habana and Victor Matfield have been ruled out of South Africa’s World Cup clash against Fiji in Wellington on Saturday.

South Africa are set to be without lock Victor Matfield and centre Jean de Villiers for their second World Cup Pool D match with Fiji on Saturday, the defending champions have said.

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.

JASON LEONARD has warned England they must perfect the art of winning close games if they are to stand any chance of regaining the World Cup.

Fourie du Preez and Heinrich Brussow have been recalled to the South Africa starting line-up for the first time in 21 months for Saturday’s Tri Nations clash with Australia in Durban.

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.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers is hoping last night's plane scare will draw his side closer together.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has named a severely weakened 27-man squad for the away leg of their Tri Nations campaign due to injuries suffered by a host of key players.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has named six uncapped players in his preliminary 49-man squad for their World Cup defence.

SPRINGBOK coach Peter de Villiers called on his team to change foreigners’ opinions that South Africans are a “bunch of hooligans” and that “there are elephants running in the streets”.

JEAN DE VILLIERS is interested in returning to Munster after this year’s World Cup.

South Africa have named seven uncapped players in a 51-man squad called up for a team planning session in Cape Town next month ahead of the World Cup and international season.

SOUTH AFRICAN coach Peter de Villiers feels his side’s dreams of retaining the World Cup next year have been boosted by their campaign in the Northern Hemisphere.

England 11 South Africa 21

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.

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 wing Bryan Habana will play no further part on the tour of Ireland and the UK after breaking a bone in his hand during training.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers is investigating the whole Springbok squad amid fears they may have taken a supplement which led to positive drug tests for two of their players.

A MUTED atmosphere from a predictably disappointing crowd and a sixth defeat in succession for the national side was hardly the homecoming the bigwigs at the IRFU would have imagined for the first rugby international at the Aviva Stadium.

THE sight of South African props falling to their knees in relief and their team-mates raising arms to the stars in triumph at the final whistle spoke volumes about how much victory over Ireland meant to an under-fire Springboks camp.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers praised Ronan O’Gara for his performance when the Munster fly-half entered the game as a substitute in yesterday’s game.