Beauden, Jordie, and Scott Barrett will become the first trio of brothers to start a Test together for the All Blacks when they line up in the series-opener against France at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.

After only spending 18 months immersed in the Irish game, newly appointed Springbok director of rugby and head coach Rassie Erasmus has already begun to implement many of the structures he encountered in a similar role with Munster to influence change in his country, writes Donal Lenihan

The enormity of the challenge facing Leinster and Munster in their respective Champions Cup quarter-finals this weekend is capably captured by the fact their opponents, Saracens and Toulon, have won the last five Heineken/Champions Cups between them, writes Donal Lenihan.

The Scarlets secured a European Champions Cup quarter-final place as Pool Five winners after toppling Toulon.

South Africa coach Allister Coetzee expects something different when the sides meet in tomorrow’s final Test in Port Elizabeth.

Four days out from a series-deciding Test with the Springboks, Devin Toner has admitted the Ireland camp is still not over their painful defeat to South Africa at Ellis Park last Saturday.

South Africa head coach Allister Coetzee has invited Ireland to “have a go” at his team when their series with the Springboks goes down to the wire on Saturday.

After the sobering sight of four World Cup semi-finalists coming from the southern hemisphere, last weekend offered a glimmer of hope for European rugby. The question now is, was it an aberration or a line in the sand?

Shock was the overriding emotion on the Cote d’Azur as Paul O’Connell announced his immediate retirement from the sport he has graced so magnificently over the last 14 years.

Toulon president Mourad Boudjellal has launched an audacious bid to see his three-time European champions join the Aviva Premiership.

Leo Cullen has made a not-so-subtle bid to bend referee Nigel Owens’ ear ahead of their Pool 5 meeting with Toulon by referencing perceived illegalities on the part of back row poacher extraordinaire Steffon Armitage.

Twenty years, 421 games, six titles.

South Africa 34 Scotland 16: Stand-off Duncan Weir hopes his stunning second-half burst against South Africa on Saturday will help seal his place in coach Vern Cotter’s plans as Scotland look to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Maybe there will have to be a law against Toulon, one denouncing them as bad for business because they are too good for everyone else.

Rugby: Bath boss Mike Ford has refused to be drawn on speculation that Wales international fly-half Rhys Priestland is to join the Aviva Premiership title contenders.

The Scots went to some trouble to make Richie McCaw feel at home at Murrayfield, unearthing evidence placing his ancestors from the same county as Robbie Burns, Bill Shankly and Robert the Bruce.

Johnny Sexton’s nomination for the IRB World Rugby Player of the Year Award gives him a chance of becoming the first Irishman since inaugural winner Keith Wood to take the prestigious honour.

Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton has been nominated for the 2014 International Rugby Board World Player of the Year award.

In the lead-up to facing Ireland anyone wearing a Springbok tracksuit proclaimed that the Autumn tour to Ireland, Britain and Italy was the beginning of their World Cup preparation and not an isolated sequence of games.

Coach Heyneke Meyer has announced the South African team that will play Ireland in Dublin on Saturday in the first of Ireland’s Autumn rugby internationals.

A genuine treat awaits. Notwithstanding the fact New Zealand will be giving Dublin a skip this month, some of rugby’s standout performers are coming to town in November, writes Donal Lenihan.

South Africa 27 New Zealand 38

The three key battles that will decide the Guinness Series opener

South Africa head coach Heyneke Meyer has entrusted 22-year-old Pat Lambie with flyhalf responsibilities for Saturday’s meeting with Ireland in the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

South Africa flanker Schalk Burger is set to miss the three-Test series against England next month due to a knee injury.

South Africa have called Sharks back-rower Jean Deysel into their World Cup training squad to provide injury cover.

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.

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.

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

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has named 12 uncapped players in his first squad since taking charge of the Springboks earlier this year.