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.

JONATHAN SEXTON insists that Leinster have the strength in depth to deal with the loss of Brian O’Driscoll should the Irish captain fail to recover from his hamstring injury for Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Saracens.

SARACENS crashed to a 25-10 defeat at the hands of French champions Clermont-Auvergne in their Heineken Cup opener in Leinster’s pool on Saturday.

Maybe the GAA can learn a thing or two from rugby –- like kicking off its premier competition with a bang. While the summer Championships often sleepwalk into summer, the Heineken Cup starts this weekend with heavyweight collisions. Alan Good looks ahead.

London Irish 33 Saracens 16

Connacht 5 Saracens 22, the Sportsground

Saracens 24 South Africa 23

BRYAN HABANA could miss South Africa’s showdown with Ireland on November 28 after being cited for allegedly kicking an opponent during the Springboks’ 20-13 test defeat to France in Toulouse.

AFTER terrorising the British & Irish Lions, as well as the southern hemisphere teams with his right boot, Springbok fly-half Morné Steyn hopes he can cause equal damage on a Europe tour that begins against France in Toulouse tomorrow night.

England prop Julian White found himself at the centre of an eye-gouging storm tonight - just a fortnight before this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

BATH boss Steve Meehan has thrown down the gauntlet to French giants Toulouse ahead of tomorrow’s s Heineken Cup showdown, declaring: “They should be very concerned.”

Leicester 52 Treviso 0

Leicester 12 Ospreys 6

New Leicester coach Heyneke Meyer has completed the signing of protege Derick Hougaard from the Blue Bulls.

TWO second-half tries enabled the NSW Waratahs to overcome a half-time deficit and defeat the Brumbies at the Sydney Football Stadium yesterday.

New Zealand 33 South Africa 6

Australia 25 South Africa 17

South Africa 35 Samoa 8

SPRINGBOK wing Bryan Habana scored a try two minutes into injury-time to lead the Northern Bulls to a thrilling win over the Coastal Sharks for their first Super 14 title.

Bulls 20 Sharks 19

New Zealand became the first side to book a place in the World Cup semi-finals after they strangled the life out of South Africa in Melbourne today.

Leon MacDonald converted his own first-half try and landed two penalties to give New Zealand the half-time lead over South Africa in the first World Cup quarter-final.

South Africa coach Rudolf Straeuli expressed every faith in inexperienced fly-half Derick Hougaard, who was today named in the Springboks’ side to play New Zealand in the World Cup quarter-finals.

South Africa coach Rudolf Straeuli believes he has a squad rich in youthful talent but has also backed the importance of his veterans going into Saturday’s quarter-final against New Zealand in Melbourne.

SOUTH Africa’s World Cup campaign suffered a major setback yesterday when flanker Joe van Niekerk was ruled out of the tournament.

South Africa’s World Cup campaign suffered a major setback today when flanker Joe van Niekerk was ruled out of the tournament.

Samoa’s World Cup adventure came to an abrupt end today as fly-half Derick Hougaard steered South Africa towards a potential quarter-final showdown with New Zealand.

South Africa, inspired by fly-half Derick Hougaard, took charge of their make-or-break World Cup clash against Samoa today by cruising into a 31-3 interval lead.

South Africa and Samoa came face-to-face in a World Cup Pool C eliminator at the Suncorp Stadium today.

Samoa’s World Cup campaign could come to an end at the Suncorp Stadium tomorrow – but Pool C opponents South Africa can still expect a fearsome challenge.

South Africa have axed their goalkicking fly-half Louis Koen for Saturday’s World Cup eliminator against Samoa at Suncorp Stadium.

It was not a shock result. In truth it was never really close to being one. But South Africa will stagger out of Aussie Stadium on Friday blushing with embarrassment after a performance so woeful it almost defied belief.

South Africa turned up to Aussie Stadium for their ritual slaughter of Georgia with the main focus of attention on the performance of fly-half Derick Hougaard.

SOUTH AFRICA, whose World Cup hopes seem doomed, look certain to turn to 20-year-old Derick Hougaard at flyhalf for their remaining group matches against Georgia and Samoa.

Martyn Wood arrived Down Under last night – and was immediately taken into solitary confinement.

Springboks skipper Corne Krige tonight insisted that discipline is a priority for South Africa as they began preparations to face fierce World Cup rivals England.

Overshadowed by the spectre of racism in recent weeks, the Springbok rugby side will be looking to lift their spirits when they get down to business in their first warm-up match for the World Cup against provincial side Free State in Bloemfontein.

South Africa's U21 fly-half Derick Hougaard is still in the picture to make the World Cup squad, Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli insists.

Defending Currie Cup champions the Blue Bulls face a tough assignment first up in their north-south derby against Western at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Ireland 26, South Africa 36