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.

Peter de Villiers will remain as South Africa coach until at least the end of the next year’s World Cup, after a meeting with his employers in Johannesburg.

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

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.

Australia assistant coach Jim Williams does not expect David Pocock to have as big an impact as he had against South Africa last month when the two countries meet in the Tri Nations on Saturday.

South Africa wing Jean de Villiers has been banned for two weeks following a dangerous tackle in the team’s 31-17 defeat by New Zealand.

EARLY October 2009, Munster had just been hockeyed 30-0 by bitter rivals Leinster. Jean de Villiers, their high-profile high-cost South African signing, had had a nightmare as himself and centre partner Lifeimi Mafi got thoroughly outplayed by the D’Arcy/O’Driscoll pairing.

MUNSTER manager Shaun Payne last night admitted the province face a ‘difficult’ task in finding a replacement for Jean de Villiers due to the looming Rugby World Cup.

IT WAS so cold last Saturday evening in Croke Park that we had to rely on gossip about the world’s most famous golfer to keep ourselves warm.

SOUTH AFRICAN coach Peter de Villiers has scotched suggestions that there will be an element of bad blood between his players and some of their Irish counterparts this Saturday.

IN ONE sense, South African rugby star Jean de Villiers didn’t time his arrival in Ireland that well.

AUSTRALIA have finalised preparations for today’s Tri-Nations clash with South Africa at Subiaco Oval in Perth and remain confident of a victory to remain alive in the competition.

PETER DE VILLIERS is expecting a tougher challenge when his South Africa side come up against Australia in the Tri-Nations this week.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers today named an unchanged team for Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash with Australia in Cape Town – a decision he described as “easy”.

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.

MUNSTER may learn by Sunday if their bid to sign Springbok centre Jean de Villiers has been successful.

WE’RE going to kick off proceedings with the most unlikely call to arms you’re going to hear this week: let’s hear it for Peter de Villiers.

OUTSPOKEN Lions assistant forwards coach Graham Rowntree yesterday rowed in behind departing centre Brian O’Driscoll in his condemnation of Springboks coach Peter de Villiers.

British and Irish Lions assistant coach Graham Rowntree has backed Brian O’Driscoll’s condemnation of comments made by South Africa boss Peter de Villiers that he appeared to condone eye gouging.

CONTROVERSIAL South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has condemned foul play in rugby – but refused to criticise banned Springboks flanker Schalk Burger.

ASSISTANT coach Dick Muir believes South Africa are well prepared for the first Test against the Lions despite the absence of Schalk Burger for the opening match in Durban on Saturday.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers is encouraged by the progress made by key duo Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn ahead of the three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions.

Giniel De Villiers remains overall leader of the Dakar Rally despite Spaniard Nani Roma winning today’s 13th special stage.

South Africa 53 Australia 8

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has refused to describe Craig Dowd’s description of him as a “puppet” as racism.

WARREN GATLAND yesterday questioned the mixed messages emerging from the South African camp ahead of Saturday’s opening Test in Bloemfontein.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers insists the world champions will be ready for a “forward onslaught” from Wales when the Test series begins on Saturday in Bloemfontein.

SOUTH AFRICA coach Peter de Villiers has warned Wales his side are preparing for “war” in their two Tests against the RBS 6 Nations champions.

Pieter De Villiers will make his return to the France team on Sunday just a fortnight after fearing his World Cup dreams could be ruined for the second successive occasion.

STEPHANE PETERHANSEL lost his way on stage 11 of the Dakar Rally but remains on course for a third successive victory.

Stephane Peterhansel lost his way on stage 11 of the Dakar Rally but remains on course for a third successive victory.

South Africa coach Jake White has sprung a surprise by switching Jean de Villiers to the wing in place of Breyton Paulse to face New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday.

South Africa 22 New Zealand 16

The two-wheeled Dakar Rally resumes today after a day of mourning for the late former champion Fabrizio Meoni.

Stephane Peterhansel retained his overall lead in the Dakar Rally today as Giniel de Villiers took victory on stage 12.