When New Zealand and South Africa clash, all bets are off.

There’s something deliciously gruff about Steve Hansen and something gloriously barmy about Heyneke Meyer. Talk about being as dry as chalk and as mad as cheese.

South Africa 64 USA 0: Heyneke Meyer paid tribute to Bryan Habana after the wing equalled the Rugby World Cup try-scoring record as his South Africa side confirmed their quarter-final spot with a comprehensive 10-try victory over USA.

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.

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.

The visitors hold all the aces in terms of recent form, preparation, settled combinations and the confidence that stems from beating New Zealand last time out.

Temperatures in Johannesburg are expected to reach 26 degrees this week.

Brian O’Driscoll has outlined how being overlooked for the 2009 IRB Player of the Year was one of the biggest disappointments of his career, while the Grand Slam win that year was one of the highlights.

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.

DUNCAN WILLIAMS has suffered more than his share of injuries over the last few seasons but is now ready to challenge all three international scrum-halves for his place on the Munster team.

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.

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.

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.

WE HAVE a lot to be grateful to Scotland for. Had they not beaten South Africa in Murrayfield last Saturday week, both the Springboks and New Zealand would return home from their respective tours of the four home unions with a clean sweep.

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.

Victor Matfield admits the recent spate of injuries that has struck South Africa is far from ideal, but is adamant the squad has enough depth to overcome Ireland.

South Africa were dealt a major blow today after experienced flanker Schalk Burger and rookie centre Juan de Jongh were both ruled out of the Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland that starts this week.

Blue Bulls centre Wynand Olivier has been ruled out of South Africa’s year-end grand slam tour due to a groin injury.

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.

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.

Peter de Villiers has been given a vote of confidence by his employers at the South African Rugby Union and assured that his job is safe.

Bulls 25 Stormers 17

Jean de Villiers has withdrawn from the South Africa team to play Wales on June 5 due to injury.

Fourie du Preez has revealed plans to quit South Africa and head to Japan to further his career following next year’s Rugby World Cup.

John Smit and Victor Matfield are among a group of 10 players to be awarded national contracts by the South African Rugby Union that will run until next year’s World Cup.

Barbarians 25 New Zealand 18

I AM astounded that Brian O’Driscoll has been sensationally passed over for the International Rugby Board player of the year award for 2009 in favour of New Zealand’s Richie McCaw.

South Africa have made six changes for Saturday’s test at Croke Park against Ireland.

Ireland coach Declan Kidney refuses to be deceived by South Africa’s collapse in form.

MUNSTER centre Jean de Villiers has been called up to the South Africa squad for Saturday’s clash against Ireland at Croke Park.

SOUTH AFRICAN rugby sensation Fourie du Preez hopes to round off a near-perfect season by helping his side finish on a high note at Croke Park on Saturday.

Ireland flanker David Wallace believes South Africa will be inspired by the ’battle of the hemispheres’ as they launch one final defence of their global supremacy.

HARD man to second guess, is Declan Kidney.

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.

SOUTH AFRICA captain John Smit may return to the middle of the front row for his side’s visit to Dublin to take on Ireland next weekend.

Italy 10 South Africa 32

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made four changes from the team beaten by France last weekend for Saturday’s clash with Italy in Udine.

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll and number eight Jamie Heaslip have been nominated for the IRB World Player of the Year.

FORMER Irish international Conor O’Shea believes coach Declan Kidney is the key to Irish success in the autumn’s internationals.