Cian Healy and Gordon D'Arcy joined their Irish teammates in New Zealand on Monday following their delayed departures for the World Cup due to injuries, team officials said.
South African coach Peter de Villiers promised to "try to behave" and live up to the honour bestowed on him after being declared an honorary Maori when the team received their official welcome to Wellington on Monday.
The seventh edition of the World Cup gets underway in Auckland on Friday, when hosts New Zealand face Tonga. Jan de Koning looks back and picks his All-time best XV!
Toulouse, who scored the only try of the match beat recently promoted Lyon 19-9 in the rain at Stade Matmut. It was Toulouse's first win in this season's Top 14 and Lyon's second defeat.
Ontario Blues survived a late scare to defeat The Rock 21-19 in the final game of the Canadian Rugby Championship season.
A flawless kicking display from Dan Newton guided Scarlets to a 32-9 victory against Aironi in their opening clash of the Pro 12 season.
Northampton's Ryan Lamb sank his former club Gloucester with a 77th-minute penalty to decide a thrilling Aviva Premiership contest 26-24.
Victor Matfield, Danny Cipriani and Jamie Roberts have all agreed to play for the Barbarians against Australia at Twickenham on November 26.
Dan Newton kicked 19 points as the Scarlets got their RaboDirect Pro12 campaign off to a winning start with a 32-9 victory against Aironi.
Northampton's Ryan Lamb sank his former club Gloucester with a late penalty to earn Saints a 26-24 win in a thrilling Aviva Premiership clash.
The EP Kings had to work hard against neighbours Border Bulldogs, but in the end had too much on the attack as they won by 51-36 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
New Zealand, despite some concerns, is ready to host the World Cup, the president of the sport's world governing body Bernard Lapasset announced.
The World Cup is shaping as a battle of wits between referees determined to exert greater control in key areas of games and players who will take advantage of any opportunities afforded to them in the law book.
New Zealand lock Ali Williams owes Nottingham a debt of gratitude for helping to rekindle his World Cup dream after two years of injury hell.
