Vern Cotter has extended his Scotland contract until 2017 in a major show of faith from the Scottish Rugby Union ahead of the World Cup.

Sam Warburton says he does not feel any sense of surprise after Wales finally ended their southern hemisphere hoodoo.

Rhys Ruddock and Tommy Bowe plundered tries to guide stubborn Ireland to their first victory over South Africa in five years at the Aviva Stadium.

South African prop Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira has returned home from South Africa’s tour of Europe following his withdrawal from Saturday’s Test with Ireland due to heart palpitations.

Prop Tendai Mtawarira has returned home from South Africa’s tour of Europe following his withdrawal from Saturday’s Test with Ireland due to heart palpitations.

Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip tonight apologised for the yellow card that underpinned his side’s 16-12 defeat by South Africa.

South Africa prop Tendai Mtawarira was treated in hospital today after suffering mild heart palpitations.

South Africa 49 Fiji 3

PROP Tendai Mtawarira is a doubt for South Africa’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after missing training yesterday with a medial knee ligament strain.

Prop Tendai Mtawarira is a doubt for South Africa’s clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday after missing training today with a medial knee ligament strain.

Front row pair BJ Botha and Tendai Mtawarira are among five player that have been dropped from the South Africa squad to face New Zealand in their Tri Nations encounter in Johannesburg on Saturday.

THERE were so many Santas wearing Munster hats on the terraces of Thomond Park last night, it was inevitable that Christmas was going to come early this year.

Ireland bring down the curtain on their autumn internationals with one eye on avenging the Lions’ Test series defeat by South Africa.

Rob Kearney has warned South Africa that Ireland are ready to match them in the physicality stakes at Croke Park tomorrow.

A WIN of any kind may seem to be a low benchmark for the world champions as they take on Italy, but such has been the disastrous nature of South Africa’s northern hemisphere tour that they are taking nothing for granted in Udine today (2pm Irish time).

WORLD champions South Africa suffered a second successive loss on their northern hemisphere tour as France triumphed in Toulouse last night.

CONFUSION surrounds the international future of South Africa prop Tendai Mtawarira after it emerged he may not be eligible to play for the Springboks.

SOUTH AFRICAN prop Tendai Mtawarira’s participation in tonight’s Test against France in Toulouse is in doubt due to ongoing confusion surrounding his citizenship.

Phil Vickery has revealed he is looking forward to tomorrow’s third Test against South Africa – his last appearance in a British and Irish Lions jersey – more than any other game of his career.

SOUTH AFRICA forward Schalk Burger has reacted to his eight-week suspension byinsisting: “I am not a rugby thug.”

The British and Irish Lions made five changes – three of them in a reinforced pack – for the crunch second Test against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld.

THE scene is set for the battle of Pretoria between the world champion Springboks and the Lions – with Lions forwards coach Warren Gatland backing the tourists to cope with South Africa’s “bully mentality” in the crunch second Test showdown at Loftus Versfeld today.

SPRINGBOK prop Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira single-handedly destroyed the British and Irish Lions scrum on Saturday.

IRELAND full-back Rob Kearney, who realised a lifetime ambition when coming on for the Lions at Kings Park on Saturday, believes a Test series victory is still possible.

Lions captain Paul O’Connell accused Bryce Lawrence of only refereeing one side after South Africa held off a late fightback to win the first Test 26-21 in Durban.

South Africa 26 British and Irish Lions 21