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 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.

SOUTH AFRICA have been hit with further worries as they prepare to head to Dublin for this Saturday’s Test with Ireland.

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.

Bath fly-half Butch James is a notable absentee from the South Africa bench for this weekend's Tri Nations encounter against Australia in Bloemfontein.

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers has made two changes to his side ahead of Saturday’s game against Australia in Pretoria.

GRAHAM HENRY expects his New Zealand side to face a much-changed South Africa one when the two countries meet in the Tri-Nations on Saturday.

SOUTH AFRICA lock Victor Matfield was yesterday despairing at the way Irish referees Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland have policed the breakdown, following his side’s second successive Tri Nations defeat to New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

SOUTH AFRICA out-half Morne Steyn insists there will be no knee-jerk reaction to last week’s Tri Nations destruction at the hands of the All Blacks when the sides meet again in Wellington tomorrow (8.35am).

SOUTH AFRICA lock Bakkies Botha has apologised to his team-mates after being banned for his head-butt on New Zealand scrum-half Jimmy Cowan.

WHILE the Super 14 is more commonly associated with dazzling backs and fingertip handling, it’s the forward-oriented pursuit of the lineout that is the primary focus at international level as the 2010 Tri Nations hovers into view.

FRANCE coach Marc Lièvremont blamed his team’s horrific opening 20 minutes for their 42-17 loss to South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday.

All Black Doug Howlett and Ireland’s Keith Earls, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes and Mick O'Driscoll return for Munster against Leinster for the Magners League semi-final at the RDS on Saturday (8pm).

Doug Howlett, Keith Earls and Jerry Flannery have all been included in the Munster squad to play Leinster in the Magner’s League semi final in The RDS on Saturday.

Doug Howlett and Ian Dowling have been included in the team to face Biarritz in Sunday's Heineken Cup semi-final in San Sebastian.

ONE of Munster’s few consolations after their second successive Magners League defeat at their once impregnable Thomond Park fortress is that they rarely play well in the week prior to a crucial Heineken Cup game.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has selected his strongest possible side for Saturday's crucial Magners League clash with Ospreys at Thomond Park Stadium (6.30pm).

MUNSTER and Leinster have commenced their ticket sales for next month’s glamour Heineken Cup ties.

The news of the return of captain Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls to the Munster side has been overshadowed by the selection of Dolphin's James Coughlan to make his first Heineken Cup start against Northampton Saints in the quarter-final Thomond Park on Saturday.

Munster will be wtihout their captain Paul O’Connell and Keith Earls for the Magner’s League clash with Leinster at Thomond Park on Friday night,

Ireland’s Ronan O'Gara will captain Munster for tomorrow's Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park (8pm).

Ireland’s Donncha O'Callaghan, Ronan O'Gara and Tony Buckley are all included in the Munster squad for the Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park Stadium on Friday (8pm).

MUNSTER enhanced their unbeaten home record with a deserved Magners League triumph over struggling Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park last night.

Ian Dowling and Niall Ronan return from injury to line up in the Munster side for Thursday's Magners League clash with the Scarlets at Musgrave Park (7.35pm).

MUNSTER have the ideal opportunity to atone for their disappointing performance against the Newport Gwent Dragons when they face the Llanelli Scarlets in a postponed Magners League game at Musgrave Park on Thursday, (7.35pm).

Flanker Tommy O’Donnell has recovered from injury to take his place in the Munster squad Munster for their Magners League tie against The Scarlets at Musgrave Park this Thursday.

MUNSTER’S worsening away form threatens to scupper their hopes of defending the Magners League title following this latest defeat.

Ireland’s Ronan O'Gara will captain Munster in the Magners League clash with The Dragons at Rodney Parade tomorrow.

MUNSTER’S prospects of achieving a favourable outcome from Saturday’s Magners League clash with the Newport Gwent Dragons (6.30pm) were given a major boost last night by the news that Ronan O’Gara will line out at out-half.

Munster 19 Edinburgy 11

Jean de Villiers will line out in the centre for Munster against Edinburgh in the Magners League at Musgrave Park on Friday evening (8pm).

Coach Tony McGahan has welcomed back his Irish internationals Ian Dowling, Peter Stringer, Donnacha Ryan and Marcus Horan for the Magner's League clash with Edinburgh at 8pm on Friday night in Musgrave Park.

Coach Tony McGahan has left his Munster side unchanged for their final Pool match of the Heineken Cup at home to Northampton Saints on Friday night.

MARCUS HORAN is “in the selection mix” for Friday night’s crucial Heineken Cup Pool Six showdown with Northampton Saints, according to Munster coach Tony McGahan.

DAVID WALLACE is an injury concern for Munster’s Heineken Cup showdown with Northampton on Friday night.

Marcus Horan once again is missing from the Munster squad for the Round 5 Heineken Cup clash with Benetton Treviso on Saturday.

EVEN though Ronan O’Gara, Tomás O’Leary and Keith Earls are all rested under the IRFU edict regarding senior international players, Munster have chosen a back division of remarkable experience and talent for tomorrow evening’s sell-out Magners League clash with Ulster at Ravenhill.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has made four changes for the Magner’s League date with Ulster at Ravenhill.

IRELAND has first call on a number of Munster players in the build up to another key Magners League clash against Ulster at Ravenhill on Saturday.

JEAN de VILLIERS silenced his critics for the second time in six days when crashing over in the last minute to score Munster’s bonus- point try in their 35-3 Magners League victory over Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday night, a win that puts them within touching distance of the leaders going into the new year.

CONNACHT bid to bridge a 23-year gap when they face Munster in the Magners League at Thomond Park on Saturday night.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has decided to leave in place the same 15 that edged Perpignan last week for the Heineken Cup trip to the same club at Stade Aime Giral on Sunday.

TONY McGAHAN is confident Ronan O’Gara will relocate his shooting range in time to strengthen Munster’s Heineken Cup challenge in back-to- back games against French champions Perpignan, starting with Friday’s clash at Thomond Park.

MUNSTER coach Tony McGahan wasted no time in launching a staunch defence of Ronan O’Gara after his penalty misses proved costly against the Ospreys on Saturday night.